Nigeria vs Ivory Coast LIVE: Afcon final updates as Sebastien Haller’s late goal wins tournament for hosts
Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast: The tournament hosts come from behind to lift the Africa Cup of Nations for a third time
Ivory Coast win the Africa Cup of Nations after coming from behind to defeat Nigeria in the final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
The hosts started as the better, more aggressive team, creating chances on goal and playing with a confidence that they’ve lacked throughout the rest of the tournament. The fans inside the stadium gave the match a lively and excitable atmosphere but Nigeria threatened to provide an upset.
In a rare attack up the pitch they won a corner that came curling onto the head of William Troost-Ekong who nodded it into the back of the net for the opener to give them the lead at half-time.
Ivory Coast didn’t give in. They came out for the second half with gusto and equalised through a set piece of their own. Franck Kessie drifting into space and powering a header into the deck before it bounced into the net. A sign of fate perhaps came at the end of the game. Sebastien Haller, who missed the start of the tournament through injury, stuck his foot onto a cross and turned it past Stanley Nwabali to decide the match.
Relive the Afcon final and get all the latest betting site offers here.
FT Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
Sebastien Haller underwent surgery in 2022 after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. He returned to professional football in 2023 and now has scored the winning goal in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
What a story.
FT Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast have become the fifth nation to win this tournament for a third time behind Egypt, Cameroon and Ghana. Here’s the newly updated list:
Egypt: 7 Afcon titles
Cameroon: 5
Ghana: 4
Ivory Coast: 3
Nigeria: 3
FT Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
Nigeria came into this match unbeaten in their past 22 Afcon games when scoring first, a streak dating back to 2010.
Full-time! Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
90+7 mins: Ivory Coast win the Africa Cup of Nations!
The final whistle goes and the tournament hosts, who could have exited this tournament on multiple occasions, get over the line. They’ve fought back from a goal down to defeat Nigeria.
Sebastien Haller’s late goal wins them the trophy. Wonderful scenes as the stadium erupts it joy and delight.
Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
90+6 mins: This is great game management from Ivory Coast. They’re passing the ball away from their area, taking time out of the game moving forward and slowing down play winning set pieces.
Nigeria need to create one more chance. One more opportunity to score.
Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
90+3 mins: A long throw in comes into the box but it gets scooped away by the hosts. The Super Eagles are awarded a free kick which is sent straight into the box.
Ivory Coast work it clear again.
Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
90 mins: Nigeria are the ones now forcing the tempo. There’s seven minutes of added time to play. That’s enough for an equaliser especially as Ivory Coast are dropping back to defend their lead.
Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
87 mins: Seko Fofana is booked for time-wasting as he hobbles off the pitch for Ivory Coast. Sebastien Haller also heads off as Ibrahim Sangare and Jean-Philippe Krasso are brought on for the final few minutes to see out this game.
There’ll be plenty of added time before this match is finished. It’s not over yet.
Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
84 mins: Time is ticking away from Nigeria now and they really need to push for a goal. They’ve been second best all night but can they find a few more levels to force this final into extra time?
GOAL! Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast (Haller, 81’)
81 mins: Ivory Coast take the lead!
They’ve come from behind to get ahead of Nigeria. Simon Adingra takes on substitute Ousmane Diomande and whips a cross into the six yard box.
Sebastien Haller sticks out a leg and turns the ball into the far bottom corner. It’s an instinctive finish and could take Ivory Coast to the trophy!
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