Nigeria vs Ivory Coast LIVE: Afcon final updates as Sebastien Haller’s late goal wins tournament for hosts

Emerse Fae was part of the Ivorian side that finished runners-up in 2006, where he played every minute of the campaign.

He now has to ensure the two-time champions score their first goal in a Nations Cup final, with their four previous appearances in the continent’s showpiece football finale all going to penalties after ending goalless.

Nigeria reached the Afcon final after beating South Africa in a penalty shootout. William Troost-Ekong, Nigeria’s captain, put his side ahead with a 67th-minute penalty which had been won by Victor Osimhen.

The Napoli star thought he had sealed victory for with a close-range finish in the 85th minute, but the goal was overturned by VAR and South Africa were awarded a penalty following a foul in the build-up.

Teboho Mokoena converted from the spot to make it 1-1 and the game went to extra time where both teams had chances to win it.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was the hero of the shootout secured victory for Nigeria.

Patson Daka spoke about Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho, his Leicester City team-mate who scored the clinching penalty in the semi-final shootout win over South Africa.

“Everyone knows the quality that he possesses and he is someone that can deliver at any time,” said Daka, “You could see the confidence that everyone has in him to give him the last penalty kick.

“I was really scared watching the game, but really happy at the end. He very rarely misses but with penalties it is different. No matter how many you have taken before, it’s always different.”

Emerse Fae replaced Jean-Louis Gasset as Ivory Coast’s head coach following the shocking start to the group stages.

Since then, the hosts have swept through the knockout rounds, clinching tight contests against Senegal and Mali before making it all the way to the final.

Having previously coached Nice’s youth teams and the reserve team of French Ligue 1 club Clermont Foot, Fae - who had been Gasset’s assistant since the latter’s appointment in May 2022 - rejected talk of him being a "special one" on Saturday.

"I said from the start that I was fortunate to know the squad for two years," he said. "We just tried to focus on building the right chemistry - I haven’t invented anything but done all the basics, like making all the players feel important and building cohesion.

"We deserve to be in the final and the most important thing was to regain confidence, rebuild the team and it was good to tidy things in defence. We’ve been taking things one step at a time."

During all three of Nigeria’s Afcon triumphs, the Super Eagles played Ivory Coast. They have won three times and lost twice during the seven previous meetings at the finals.

This final could be a close one.

Nigeria have conceded just two goals in six games during this tournament. William Troost-Ekong and long-term West Brom defender Semi Ajayi marshalling the back line brilliantly.

At the other end of the pitch they have scored seven with Ademola Lookman the most threatening attacker, top scoring with three goals.

Victor Osimhen has only scored once from 24 attempts on goal at the 2023 Nations Cup finals, albeit while having had two goals ruled out by VAR and another disallowed for handball.

Nigeria teammate, Ademola Lookman, has netted three times.

"He doesn’t play like a star, but fights for the team," said Nigeria boss Jose Peseiro, "He knows he’s an important player and because of that, he suffers for the team - getting kicked around - but he helps us as much as the team helps him. It’s a collective effort and we fight together."

Nigeria cruised through the group stages with seven points before defeating Cameroon, Angola and South Africa in the knockout stages.

Ivory Coast suffered a defeat to the Super Eagles then were beaten 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea - a record home and Nations Cup loss.

They reached the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed sides before coming to life with dramatic knockout wins over Senegal and Mali then beating DR Congo in the last four.

Can they claim the trophy tonight?

Nigeria’s head coach, Jose Peseiro, is only thinking about winning tonight’s final.

After a slow but steady start to the tournament the Super Eagles have reached the Afcon showpiece and may be the slight favourites to claim the trophy despite Ivory Coast playing at home.

“The atmosphere will be fantastic and my players and staff all prefer to play in a full stadium, despite the level of noise,” said Peseiro yesterday.

“Ivory Coast were favourites ahead of this tournament, but we want to win this Nations Cup. My only plan is to beat Ivory Coast and win this trophy for the people of Nigeria.”

Ivory Coast are the first host nation to reach the Afcon final since Egypt in 2006, with five of the last six hosts to have contested the final having gone on to lift the trophy.

The only exception to this stat being Nigeria in 2000.

Unbeaten unlike their opponents, the Nigerians are the highest-ranked of the finalists - rated sixth in Africa (and 42nd in the world), as opposed to Ivory Coast’s African ranking of eighth (and 49th overall).