The stage is set for a fiery showdown as the Ivory Coast national team prepares to lock horns with Nigeria in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, taking place in Ivory Coast.
The highly anticipated final is scheduled for Sunday, February 11th, 2024, at 10:00 PM Cairo time.
Nigeria commenced its journey in the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea, followed by a 1-0 victory over Ivory Coast and a similar scoreline against Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.
The team then secured a 2-0 win against Cameroon in the round of 16, followed by a 1-0 victory over Angola in the quarter-finals and a penalty shootout win against South Africa in the semi-finals, with a scoreline of 4-2.
The Ivorian national team kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau but suffered defeats against Nigeria (0-1) and Equatorial Guinea (0-4) in the group stage.
However, they staged a miraculous comeback against Senegal, the reigning champions, clinching a victory on penalties after the match ended 1-1 in regular and extra time, in the round of 16.
They then secured a 2-1 win against Mali in the quarter-finals and a crucial 1-0 victory against the Democratic Republic of Congo in the semi-finals.
Regarding their history in the Africa Cup of Nations finals, Nigeria has clinched the title three times. They first lifted the trophy in 1980 by defeating Algeria with a resounding 3-0 victory.
They secured their second title in 1994, triumphing over Zambia with a scoreline of 2-1. Nigeria’s most recent AFCON victory came in 2013 when they emerged victorious against Burkina Faso with a 1-0 win.
As for the Ivory Coast national team, they claimed their maiden title in 1992 after defeating Ghana on penalties.
They later clinched the championship once again in 2015, with another penalty shootout victory over Ghana.
The upcoming final promises to be a clash of titans as these two footballing powerhouses battle it out for continental supremacy in what is expected to be a thrilling encounter.
Football fans around the world eagerly await the culmination of the AFCON 2023 tournament, as Ivory Coast and Nigeria vie for their sixth title, adding another chapter to their storied footballing rivalry.
