Echoes From Cote d’Ivoire 2023 AFCON

A packed-to-the-rafters Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan produced the perfect setting for hosts, Cote d’Ivoire to add a third African title in front of their loyal supporters who rallied them to a pole finish as a result of a 2-1 comeback victory against Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

Presented here are facts and figures from the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final match on Sunday, February 11, 2024.

● For the 12th time in history, the host country has won the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, and the first since Egypt in 2006. For Côte d’Ivoire, this is their third title ever, after 1992 in Senegal and 2015 in Equatorial Guinea.

● Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been eliminated in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations final for the fifth time (after 1984, 1988, 1990, and 2000), equalling Ghana for the joint-most side that has finished as the tournament’s runners-up.

● Emerse Faé is the very first manager to win a CAF Africa Cup of Nations tournament without starting the edition as head coach of his team.

● Nigeria only attempted five shots against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the final match, their fewest tally in a CAF Africa Cup of Nations game since Opta started collecting data in 2010.

● Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong is the first defender/full-back to score three goals in the same CAF Africa Cup of Nations edition since Opta started collecting data in 2010

● William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) and Sébastien Haller (Côte d’Ivoire) are the first players to score in both the CAF semi-final and final in the same CAF Africa Cup of Nations edition since Gedo with Egypt in 2010.

● Franck Kessié has scored two goals in his last four CAF Africa Cup of Nations games (1 v Senegal in the last 16, 1 v Nigeria today), after finding the net just once in his first 15 in the tournament. He has scored the very first goal for Côte d’Ivoire in a CAF AFCON final, for their fifth game at this stage.

● Côte d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra is the first player to assist twice in a CAF Africa Cup of Nations final in the 21st century.

● At 36 years and 73 days, Côte d’Ivoire’s Max-Alain Gradel became the oldest outfield player to appear in a CAF Africa Cup of Nations final since Opta started collecting data in 2008 and the second overall behind Egypt’s goalkeeper Essam El Hadary (37 years in 2010 and 44 years in 2017). – CAFonline.com reports