AFCON2023 Final is Nigeria vs Ivory Coast as Ivorians beat DRC1:0
On Sunday when the AFCON2023 final is played in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, it will be between the Elephants of Ivory Coast and the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Both teams qualified by edging out their opponents in the semi-finals. Nigeria beat South Africa on penalties while Ivory Coast defeated DRC 1:0. Interestingly, both teams are from groyp A and Nigeria had beaten Ivory Coast in their group game.
In the 65th minute of the semi-final game between Ivory Coast and DRC played in Abidjan yesterday night, the only goal was scored when Haller’s volley bounced down into the ground and then up over Leopards goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. Just before halftime, the Borussia Dortmund striker missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring with an unmarked header, and he also failed to double the lead when his lob narrowly missed the target.
DR Congo made little effort to equalize late in the game, although Meschack Elia’s volley went wide of the left-hand upright and Simon Banza fired well over in injury time.
Ivory Coast had dismissed Jean-Louis Gasset as their manager before barely making it through the group stage. They had relied on late goals against both Senegal and Mali to progress to the semi-finals.
However, interim boss Emerse Fae now has the opportunity to lead the Elephants to their third continental title, adding to their previous triumphs in 1992 and 2015. They will face three-time winners Nigeria in Abidjan on Sunday (20:00 GMT).
The Super Eagles secured their spot in the final earlier on Wednesday by defeating South Africa 4-2 on penalties after a thrilling 1-1 draw in Bouake.
