Ivorian striker Sébastien Haller has described Côte d’Ivoire’s victorious 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign as the most profound football experience of his career.
In a candid interview with Eurosport, Haller reflected on the emotional highs and challenges that shaped his journey to scoring the decisive goal in the Elephants’ dramatic 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the final.
The tournament was hosted by Côte d’Ivoire and marked a defining moment in Haller’s career, both professionally and personally.
“The last AFCON is surely the most powerful football experience I have ever had,” Haller said. “Yes, maybe. It was a goal I set for myself when I was sick.
Winning the AFCON and scoring the winning goal, that’s something, of course. I tell myself that it put an end to this episode.”
Haller’s reference to “this episode” encapsulated his personal battle with cancer and the challenges he faced after losing his starting position at Borussia Dortmund.
Scoring the match-winning goal in front of his home crowd symbolized triumph over adversity, cementing his place in Ivorian football history.
“What happened to me is part of history,” he continued. “I was still talking about it today.
The last African Cup of Nations is surely the strongest football experience I have had. Afterwards, this competition was mentally trying. I even think there was a before and after AFCON 2023.”
Haller also highlighted how AFCON 2023 fit into a larger narrative of personal resilience and transformation over recent years.
“Personally, it’s not just the AFCON 2023. It’s a long process, linked to these last years, which has been mentally demanding,” he explained.
He noted that the tournament, along with Borussia Dortmund’s narrow loss to Real Madrid in the 2024 UEFA Champions League final, provided emotional closure to a tumultuous chapter in his life.
“This competition and the final of the Champions League 2024 have closed all that,” he added.
Haller’s reflections serve as a poignant reminder of the power of football to inspire and heal, as his AFCON triumph continues to resonate as both a personal milestone and a proud moment for Côte d’Ivoire.
Les grandes explications de Sébastien Haller sur son début de saison cauchemar #football https://t.co/OVRbLyTAAW pic.twitter.com/6uVgvQ4Pqr
— Afrik-Foot (@afrikfoot) December 5, 2024
