Who: Nigeria vs Ivory Coast
What: CAF AFCON 2023 remaining
When: Sunday, February 11, 2024, 20:00 GMT
The place: Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro has sought to minimize his facet’s tag as favourites for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations crown whereas speaking up his misfiring African footballer of the yr Victor Osimhen.
The Tremendous Eagles face the hosts, Ivory Coast, who they beat 1-0 within the group stage within the remaining on the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday.
The Elephants had been practically eradicated on the first hurdle having additionally misplaced to Equatorial Guinea within the remaining group-stage match, and parted firm with their supervisor Jean-Louis Gasset whereas they awaited clarification as to whether or not they would progress as one of many 4 finest third-placed finishers.
“There isn’t any favorite for the ultimate,” insisted the Portuguese coach. “All sides has a 50 % probability, however we’re decided to win this remaining.”
Osimhen, meantime, has beforehand acquired reward from his coach for his work price and performances on the match.
The Napoli striker earned his facet a degree in Nigeria’s opening match in opposition to Equatorial Guinea however has but to search out the web once more.
“He doesn’t play like he’s the star. He fights for the crew and is totally unselfish,” mentioned Peseiro.
“He is aware of he is a vital participant and he offers us the perfect power. He has suffered rather a lot on this match with all the eye he receives from the opposing defenders as a result of he is aware of it’s a crew sport.”
𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗼. 🤩
🦅 🆚 🐘
Which band’s music performs within the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 remaining sky? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/RrAR6V2wD8
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 8, 2024
Ivory Coast’s interim coach Emerse Fae was not his nation’s first selection to switch the outgoing Gasset but now he leads his nation within the remaining.
Now Fae can now be part of an elite record of Africa Cup of Nations-winning managers simply weeks after taking cost of a senior match for the primary time.
It will be a rare achievement for the 40-year-old French-born former Ivorian worldwide, who performed for his nation within the 2006 remaining – albeit on the shedding facet.
He had been assistant to Gasset over the past 18 months so was nicely versed in what occurred and what wanted to be carried out.
“We had tough days emotionally and mentally and we got here by means of the again door,” admitted Fae. “Shedding 4-0 at house was horrible, after which afterwards we needed to wait. Actually, it was very tough to work, to heal the injuries whereas crossing your fingers.”
Fae made a number of key modifications and the Ivorians confirmed spectacular psychological fortitude in overcoming holders Senegal within the final 16 and neighbours Mali within the quarterfinal, coming from behind in each matches.
Their semifinal victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo continued the comeback. Native press have dubbed Fae the “Particular One”.
“No, no, no, that’s not true,” he replied on Saturday when requested concerning the tag first used for Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.
“It has been a collective to get us all right here.”
Nigeria’s gamers to look at
The African footballer of the yr has but to search out his goalscoring contact at this match however has gained reward from his coach for his work price and performances.
Ademola Lookman
The previous Everton ahead scored all three objectives his facet managed within the spherical of 16 and quarterfinal wins in opposition to Cameroon and Angola. The place Osimhen is drawing the eye of quite a few opposition gamers each out and in of possession, it has created openings for others which Lookman has totally taken benefit of.
William Troost-Ekong
The captain has been a frontrunner in each sense for his facet. The rock of the facet’s defence, which has solely conceded two objectives on the match, Troost-Ekong has additionally scored two penalties, together with one in opposition to Ivory Coast within the group, in regular time and netted within the shootout win in opposition to South Africa.
ONE NATION. ONE DREAM. #AFCON2023 FINAL! 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/tFJxX8a5Te
— William Troost-Ekong (@WTroostEkong) February 7, 2024
Ivory Coast’s gamers to look at
Sebastian Haller
The Borussia Dortmund striker was solely match sufficient to begin for the primary time within the match in opposition to DRC within the semifinal. It was his purpose, albeit considerably of a miss-kick, that despatched the Elephants to the ultimate. As a lot as an Ivorian win could be an unbelievable redemption at this version, it will additionally mark a exceptional comeback for Haller, who was identified with testicular most cancers in 2022.
Simon Adingra
The Brighton and Hove Albion winger is turning into one thing of a sensation on the match and is undoubtedly a fan favorite among the many host nation’s supporters. Each time the ball arrives at Adingra’s ft the extent of expectation and quantity contained in the venues elevate. It was Adingra who netted the Ninetieth-minute equaliser in opposition to Mali within the semifinal that took the tie to additional time.
Franck Kessie
The midfielder signed for Al-Alhi within the Saudi Professional League final yr having been one of many hottest properties in European soccer for a while. The 27-year-old joined Serie A membership Atalanta as an adolescent earlier than being snapped up by Italian giants AC Milan in 2019. Barcelona introduced Kessie, who has been a driving pressure within the centre of the park, to Spain in 2022 earlier than his transfer to Saudi Arabia.
Type information
Nigeria: W W W W W
Ivory Coast: L L W W W
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗘. 😮💨
🇳🇬 Nigeria 🆚 Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮
We’re lastly on the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 remaining cease! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dk3AtUoXh2
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 7, 2024
Prize cash
Champions: $7m
Runners-up: $4m
Head-to-head file:
Matches: 12
Nigeria gained: 4
Ivory Coast gained: 6
Attracts: 2
Crew information
Nigeria will hope there is no such thing as a repeat of the belly criticism that resulted in Osimhen having to journey a day later than the remainder of the squad for his or her semifinal.
Left-back Zaidu Sanusi missed the semifinal with South Africa resulting from a hamstring damage however shall be given a late-fitness check within the run-up to the ultimate, having been a relentless previous to the assembly with Bafana Bafana.
Nigeria’s predicted beginning XI: Stanley Nwabali, Semi Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Vibrant Osayi-Samuel, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman.
Ivory Coast welcome again the suspended pairing of Odilon Kossounou and Oumar Diakire, each of whom had been despatched off within the quarterfinal win in opposition to Mali. Kossounou was a starter in that sport and is anticipated to return to the defence rather than Willy Bolly.
Ivory Coast’s predicted beginning XI: Yahia Fofana, Wilfried Singo, Odilon Kossounou, Evan Ndicka, Ghislain Konan, Frank Kessié, Jean-Michael Seri, Seko Fofana, Max Gradel, Sebastian Haller, Simon Adingra.
