SEBASTIEN HALLER and Franck Kessie have fired hosts Ivory Coast to the Africa Cup of Nations trophy as the hosts battled from a goal down to win the game.
The Super Eagles took the lead in the first-half after Super Eagles skipper William Troost-Ekong powered home a close range header.
But Kessie fired home from close range to draw the Elephants, who sacked their manager during the group stage, level.
Former West Ham striker Haller – who had a six-month fight with cancer – then completed a fairy tale ending, poking home a cross to earn the hosts the Afcon title.
- Match result: Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
- Nigeria XI: Nwabali, Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Aina, Onyeka, Iwobi, Sanusi, Chukwueze, Lookman, Osimhen.
- Ivory Coast XI: Fofana, Aurier, Kossounou, Ndicka, Konan, Kessie, Seri, Fofana, Gradel, Haller, Adingra.
Follow all the action from the massive final in our live blog below…
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Match report, Jon West:
SEBASTIEN HALLER was the comeback hero as the Ivory Coast lifted the Africa Nations Cup in front of their own fans.
Nigeria scored first in the thriller on Sunday night.
But ex-West Ham forward Haller, now at Borussia Dortmund, netted a winner for 2-1 nine minutes from time to complete a remarkable personal journey as well.
Haller, 29, had his career put on hold by cancer but returned to triumph on the continent’s biggest stage.
Ivory Coast, who only just scraped through the group stage, bossed the opening exchanges.
Veteran Max Gradel went close with an overhead kick into the side-netting.
Read the rest of the match report, here….
SunSport MOTM:
There were some incredible performances out there for Ivory Coast tonight.
Jean-Michael Seri ran the show in midfield, and controlled the game absolutely brilliantly.
Sebastian Haller completed his fairy-tale story and scored the winning goal, as well as proving a handful for the Nigerian defence throughout.
Odilon Kossounou was exceptional at centre-half, as he has been for Bayer Leverkusen all season too.
But the SunSport Man of the Match goes to Simon Adingra.
I told you before the game kicked off that he was the young player to watch, and he showed his immense potential once again tonight.
Brighton have got a gem on their hands that caused no end of problems for Ola Aina, and he picked up two assists to boot too.
What a performance. Simon Adingra take a bow.
Simon Adingra was the star of the show in the AFCON finalCredit: Reuters Never give up
Let Sebastian Haller’s story be one that inspires you all.
Never. Give. Up.
Sebastian Haller has an inspiring story to shareCredit: X – @FabrizioRomano
New manager bounce?
It looked like bad news for Ivory Coast when they removed incumbent manager Jean-Louis Gasset and replaced him with his assistant, Emerse Fae as interim head coach.
But it turned out to be the best possible decision they could have made…
Fae was able to immediately benefit from Afcon’s recent expansion from a 16-team tournament to a 24 team event, seeing his side qualify for the round of 16 as one of the best performing third place group stage teams.
They had a few dramatic games in the RO16 and quarter-finals, with both going to extra-time, but the “zombie” team were able to reach the final in a more straight forward manner on Wednesday, beating DR Congo 1-0 courtesy of a Sebastien Haller strike.
They then took it all the way tonight, overturning a one goal deficit to win 2-1 thanks to another bit of brilliance by Mr. Haller.
What a story.
Emerse Fae (pictured) replaced Jean-Louis Gasset mid tournamentCredit: Reuters Heroic Haller!
What a fairy-tale story that is.
In July 2022 Sebastian Haller was diagnosed with testicular cancer, less than two years later he has scored the winner to make his country champions of Africa.
If was a deft flick at the near post, following excellent work by Simon Adingra, which ended up in the top right corner.
What a game, what a goal, what a story.
That is the beauty of the African Cup of Nations.
Sebastian Haller was the hero for Ivory CoastCredit: Reuters FULL TIME! Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
THEY HAVE DONE IT. IVORY COAST ARE AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS CHAMPIONS!
ABIDJAN ERUPTS!
Abidjan erupts as Ivory Coast win the African Cup of NationsCredit: Reuters Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
90+6. It’s lumped forward again and again by Nigeria, still to no avail.
They need to get their foot on the ball, but Ivory Coast are doing so well to prevent them from doing so.
Ivory Coast can sense it…
Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
90+3. The magnificent Jean-Michael Seri comes off to be replaced by Lazare Amani.
Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
90. There has been SEVEN minutes added on at the end of the ninety here.
Nigeria are getting desperate.
Jean Krasso is on for the heroic Haller, and Fofana is replaced by Sangare.
Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
87. There is still time for Nigeria here, who look like they are finally going to go for it in this game.
There are two more changes for Nigeria in the dying moments, as forwards Terem Moffi and Joe Aribo are on for Frank Onyeka and Zaidu Sanusi.
Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
82. What a finish that is by Sebastian Haller, a toe on the cross that flew into the top right corner.
That could just be the fairy-tale ending to this story.
GOALLLLLL! Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
IVORY COAST TAKE THE LEAD, IT’S SEBASTIAN HALLER!
Simon Adingra beats Ola Aina and crosses for Sebastian Haller to tap home!
The Abidjan crowd is going WILD!Nigeria 1-1 Ivory Coast
78. Another chance for the players to catch a breather and some water as Osimhen goes down.
Kelechi Iheanacho replaces Ademola Lookman and Alhassan Yusuf comes on for Alex Iwobi.
Nigeria 1-1 Ivory Coast
75. Time for the second cooling break, with just 15 minutes plus stoppages to go.
SO CLOSE! Nigeria 1-1 Ivory Coast
74. That was almost it, that was almost the moment for Sebastian Haller and Ivory Coast.
A cross is put into the middle for Simon Adingra, who heads it across goal for Sebastian Haller to attempt a bicycle kick.
It floats just wide of the top corner, but we have seen him do that before.
Nigeria 1-1 Ivory Coast
72. Adingra continues to tear up the left hand side for Ivory Coast, and the pressure is really starting to build.
Osimhen cuts a very frustrated figure.
SUBS! Nigeria 1-1 Ivory Coast
70. Oumar Diakite is on for Max Gradel, who has been excellent so far.
Wilfried Singo is on to replace Serge Aurier.
Nigeria 1-1 Ivory Coast
67. Nigeria have a free kick in the attacking half, taken by Lookman into Troost-Ekong once more.
It is a free header, but it floats over the crossbar.
Nigeria 1-1 Ivory Coast
65. Only once in the previous ten renditions have we seen two goals in an AFCON final.
Victor Osimhen is now pleading with his teammates to step forward and move the ball forward.
Ivory Coast feel that they can take advantage of the moment here and get another.
GOALLLLLL! Nigeria 1-1 Ivory Coast
63. IVORY COAST LEVEL THE SCORING!
It’s Kessie from the corner!
Simon Adingra whips the ball in perfectly, for Kessie to head into the ground and into the net!
That is what they have deserved, and Didier Drogba leads the celebrations for the Cote d’Ivoire faithful!
Nigeria 1-0 Ivory Coast
62. Ivory Coast really putting on the pressure here.
A diving header from Kessie is saved, and then a long shot from Kossounou leads to a corner for the hosts.
Nigeria 1-0 Ivory Coast
60. Onyeka gives away another foul, on Kessie this time.
Seri lashes a shot from distance following a lovely bit of skill, but it is wide of the mark.
SUB! Nigeria 1-0 Ivory Coast
57. Excellent midfield play from Jean Michael Seri, who holds off Victor Osimhen and wins a throw in for his side.
Samuel Chukwueze is substituted for Moses Simon.
Nigeria 1-0 Ivory Coast
55. Stanley Nwabali and Serge Aurier are both given yellow cards by the referee following some choice words from both of them.
The game is back underway and it is no penalty for the challenge on Max Gradel.
Nigeria 1-0 Ivory Coast
52. One for VAR to look at here as Gradel goes down in the penalty area.
The referee doesn’t give it, and I must say it doesn’t look like a penalty, it looks like Gradel is trying to buy that one…
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
