Photo credit: AFP
The 2023 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations concluded on Sunday, the 11th of February, after 52 thrilling games filled with excitement, drama, unexpected twists, and remarkable displays of national brilliance. Among the teams, Ivory Coast emerged as the ultimate victor, lifting the trophy in front of their jubilant fans on home soil.
Ivory Coast’s path to glory was characterized by several pivotal moments, including the mid-tournament departure of their manager, Jean-Louis Gasset, who was replaced by assistant coach Emerse Fae.
In the group stages, Ivory Coast was drawn into Group A alongside AFCON runners-up Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.
The Elephants kicked off their campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau, courtesy of goals from Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso. However, their momentum was quickly halted as they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Nigeria in their second group encounter, with William Troost-Ekong’s penalty proving decisive.
Their final group stage match ended in a disappointing 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea, casting doubts over the host nation’s AFCON aspirations as they finished third in Group A. Despite their shaky start, Ivory Coast managed to secure a spot in the Round of 16 as one of the top third-place finishers across all six groups.
In the Round of 16, Ivory Coast faced defending champions Senegal, who had been formidable in the group stages, winning all three of their matches. Despite being the underdogs, Ivory Coast held Senegal to a 1-1 draw, eventually triumphing 5-4 in a tense penalty shootout to advance to the quarter-finals.
The quarter-final clash against Mali proved to be another nerve-wracking encounter, with Ivory Coast equalizing in the dying moments of regular time through Simon Adingra’s goal, before Oumar Diakité sealed a dramatic late winner in extra time, propelling Ivory Coast into the semi-finals.
Facing DR Congo in the semi-finals without key players Odilon Kossounou and Oumar Diakité, who were suspended due to red cards, Ivory Coast clinched a hard-fought victory with Sébastien Haller’s 65th-minute strike, securing their place in the final.
In the highly anticipated final against Nigeria, Ivory Coast found themselves trailing after William Troost-Ekong’s opener in the 38th minute. However, Franck Kessié restored parity with a crucial goal in the 62nd minute, before Sébastien Haller’s decisive winner in the 81st minute sealed Ivory Coast’s third AFCON title in a thrilling showdown.
Ivory Coast’s triumph in the 2023 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations was a testament to their resilience and determination. Despite facing challenges such as managerial changes and tough opponents, the Ivorian team showcased their character and class throughout the tournament. From their early struggles in the group stage to their dramatic victories in the knockout rounds, Ivory Coast demonstrated their championship and solidified their status as one of Africa’s footballing powerhouses.
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