Hosts Ivory Coast have won the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, following a 2-1 victory over the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Abidjan on Sunday.
Sebastian Haller scored the winner to complete a second half comeback for Ivory Coast who avenged a group stage loss to Nigeria.
The Ivoirians were on the brink of elimination before this mazy run to the AFCON title in front of a sea of orange-wearing, packed stadium.
The win is Ivory Coast’s third AFCON title and first since their 2015 victory.
- Tinubu mourns Access Holdings CEO, Ogunbanjo, Others
- PHOTOS: Kano seals warehouses ‘hoarding’ grains, noodles, sugar
Ivory Cost created the better chances of the first half, Fofana shooting straight at Stanley Nwabali from 25 yards while Max Gradel”s acrobatic effort went just wide of the post. Adingra then had a shot well saved by Nwabali.
The Super Eagles turned the tide in a flash and grabbed the opener from a corner kick. Troost-Ekong rose highest to plant a looping header into the net for his third goal of the tournament.
Both sides continued to threaten but could not find the final ball as Nigeria led at the interval.
The Ivoirians turned it up a notch in the second half and got a deserved equalizer through Kessie’s header from a corner kick on 62 minutes.
Ivory Coast pressed on for the lead but Sebastian Haller saw an overhead kick sail wide. The striker who overcame cancer scored the winner with a glancing header on 81 minutes.
Ivory Coast held on to claim an improbable title, and became the first host to lift AFCON trophy since Egypt in 2006.
