AFCON 2023 final between Ivory Coast and Nigeria looms on the horizon, Ivory Coast finds itself once again in a position familiar to its footballing history – the decisive battleground of penalty shootouts.
The Elephants, despite their storied footballing prowess, have etched a unique narrative in AFCON finals, with each of their previous victories in the tournament culminating in the intensity of penalty kicks.
Ivory Coast has never clinched a AFCON final without the heart-pounding drama of penalties, and as they gear up to face Nigeria, a glance at their historical journey unveils the intricacies of these nail-biting encounters.
The clash between Nigeria and Ivory Coast in the AFCON 2023 final adds another chapter to their shared football history.
While Nigeria boasts three AFCON titles, Ivory Coast has secured the coveted trophy twice. However, Nigeria has experienced the sting of defeat four times in the final.
Remarkably, only one of these defeats saw them succumb to the pressure of penalties – a memorable encounter during AFCON 2000 where they lost 4-3 in a shootout against Cameroon after a 2-2 draw in extra time.
Ivory Coast, on the other hand, has a distinct tale intertwined with penalty shootouts in the final. In 2006, the Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary became a formidable obstacle, denying the Elephants victory by saving crucial shots from Didier Drogba and Arouna Koné.
The agony continued in AFCON 2012 when Yao Gervinho’s missed penalty paved the way for Zambia to claim the title.
However, the Elephants have also tasted the sweetness of success through penalties. In 1992, Ivory Coast emerged triumphant in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout against Ghana, securing their first AFCON title.
The script repeated itself in 2015, once again against Ghana, as Ivory Coast clinched the title in a captivating penalty shootout, marking their second triumph.
As Ivory Coast and Nigeria prepare to lock horns in the ACON2023 final, the footballing world anticipates whether penalties will once again be the arbiter of fate in the Elephants’ quest for continental glory.
The legacy of Ivory Coast’s penalty drama continues, adding an extra layer of suspense to an already captivating tournament finale.
