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.
Nigeria 1-0 Ivory Coast
48 mins: Ivory Coast win a free kick on the edge of the over to the right side of the penalty area. The set piece gets flicked into the box but Victor Osimhen is there to head away the initial ball.
Second half! Nigeria 1-0 Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast get the match back underway knowing they need to score to get back into this final. They’re playing well so there is hope unless Nigeria score again first.
Half-time! Nigeria 1-0 Ivory Coast
45+4 mins: Seko Fofana takes a shot from range right at the end of the first half but it’s safely kept out. The whistle goes and Nigeria head down the tunnel with a slender lead.
Can they hold onto it for another 45 minutes?
Nigeria 1-0 Ivory Coast
45 mins: Four minutes of added time to play in the first half.
Nigeria 1-0 Ivory Coast
42 mins: Ivory Coast will be nervous now despite controlling most of this match. Nigeria have only conceded two goals in the entire tournament and the hosts have to score.
Another goal for Nigeria and the trophy could be theirs. Africa Cup of Nations finals don’t tend to be high scoring affairs.
GOAL! Nigeria 1-0 Ivory Coast (Troost-Ekong, 38’)
38 mins: Nigeria strike first!
From the corner the ball is whipped into the near post where it hits a Nigerian head, maybe Alex Iwobi’s, and loops up in the air. The Super Eagles’ captain, William Troost-Ekong comes towards the ball, leaps over Serge Aurier and powers it into the back of the net!
Against the run of play, Nigeria are ahead.
Nigeria 0-0 Ivory Coast
36 mins: That was a chance for Nigeria. Zaidu is played into a lot of space on the left after Ivory Coast lose possession. His first touch is heavy though which allows the defender to get across and deflect the ball out of play for a corner.
Nigeria 0-0 Ivory Coast
33 mins: Save! Haller releases the ball to Franck Kessie who sweeps a pass over to the left side of the penalty area. Adingra gets in behind Ola Aina then blasts a shot at goal.
He should score but the angle is tight and Stanley Nwabali palms the ball away!
Nigeria 0-0 Ivory Coast
30 mins: Ivory Coast have been the better team over the first half an hour as the teams take a break to take on some fluids due the to high temperatures.
Nigeria need to work hard and get themselves properly into the match. They need more time in possession to put pressure back onto the hosts.
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