Nigeria vs Ivory Coast LIVE
After a victory in Sunday's final, Nigeria and Ivory Coast will play one more match before one of them may hold the Africa Cup of Nations trophy.
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In their previous meeting of the tournament, Nigeria defeated Ivory Coast 1-0 in group play.Nigeria's strong defense, which has allowed only two goals in six AFCON games thus far, has allowed them to move to the final. In the semifinal, the Super Eagles defeated South Africa on penalties and advanced to the championship game.
This year's 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final—which will be Ivory Coast and Nigeria's second meeting—will take place at Stade Alassane Ouattara on Sunday. Many things have changed since the Super Eagles defeated the Elephants in Group A. Emerse Fae is currently in charge of the Ivorian team, following Jean Louis Gasset's departure when it appeared that the hosts had lost on home territory. While Nigeria has struggled, Ivory Coast unexpectedly arrives in Abidjan with a bounce in their step.
Although Jose Peseiro's team is the higher favorite overall in this edition, Nigeria has three AFCON titles compared to their hosts' two going into this match. This time, the Nigerians' defense has been crucial. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has been outstanding in the net, and a four-game streak without a goal was only broken by a late penalty kick from South Africa. Despite having only one goal to his credit due to disallowed goals, Victor Osimhen—the current African Footballer of the Year—will be crucial once more. William Troost Ekong's penalty ended the previous encounter 1-0, and this one looks to be just as close. Twelve host nations would have succeeded in the AFCON with an Ivorian victory.
However, a strong but unimpressive Super Eagles team managed by Victor Osimhen stands in their way. Nigeria has been the most reliable team in this Ivory Coast tournament and is eager to win an Africa Cup of Nations trophy for the first time since 2013, their third-place finish ever.
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The Ivory Coast won the tournament in 2015—their second title ever—and under interim manager Emerse Fae, they performed exceptionally well in the knockout stages after firing manager Jean-Louis Gasset following the group stage, where they narrowly advanced as the fourth-best third-place team. The remarkable home support as well as the return to full fitness of Simon Adingra and Sebastien Haller have been beneficial.
All roads lead to Abidjan's spectacular Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Sunday, where a brilliant, wild tournament culminates in a final between two powerhouses to give it the ideal send-off. Both teams have had dramatic victory on penalty kicks and plenty of drama.Your go-to resource for all things related to the Beautiful Game, as our reporters bring you news that matters both on and off the field.I consent to receiving information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies, including the "Golazo Starting XI Newsletter" and marketing emails, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information.
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How to observe and the odds
Date: February 11th, Sunday Time: 3:30 PM Eastern Time
Location: Abidjan, Ivory Coast's Stade Alassane Ouattara
Television: beIN Sports USA
Odds: Nigeria +170; Ivory Coast +180; Draw +180
Team updates
Ivory Coast: Wilfried Singo and Ibrahim Sangare are also starting to establish themselves as regulars, but Evan Ndicka, Ghislain Konan, Seko Fofana, and Franck Kessie are playing the most minutes this time around. Along with Oumar Diakite, Serge Aurier will return from suspension. Sebastien Haller and Simon Adingra are expected to start, with Max Gradel and Nicolas Pepe vying for a spot in the starting lineup.
Possible Ivory Coast starting eleven: Fofana; Kessie, Seri, Aurier, Boly, Ndicka, Konan; Pepe, Haller, Adingra.
On TV: beIN Sports USA
Nigeria +170; Ivory Coast +180; Draw +180 are the odds.
Team news
Ivory Coast: Evan Ndicka, Ghislain Konan, Seko Fofana, and Franck Kessie are playing the most minutes this time around, but Wilfried Singo and Ibrahim Sangare are also beginning to establish themselves as regulars. Oumar Diakite will be rejoined by Serge Aurier, who has been suspended. Max Gradel and Nicolas Pepe are battling for a starting position, with Sebastien Haller and Simon Adingra predicted to start.
Fofana, Kessie, Seri, Aurier, Boly, Ndicka, Konan; Pepe, Haller, Adingra are possible starting eleven for Ivory Coast.Given how unexpected this run to the final has been, Ivory Coast has nothing to lose, but Nigeria is now anticipated to win. The Elephants should prevail and defeat the Super Eagles thanks to home field advantage. Nigeria 1; Ivory Coast 2.
The Africa Cup of Nations has reached the final two after four weeks of displaying the best of the continent.In the most exciting AFCON in decades, hosts Ivory Coast takes on Nigeria in today's main event.But what’s made it so good? Has the spectacle of the tournament garnered as much attention as the drama on the field?What more needs to be done by AFCON off the field in order to equal its success on it?In addition to The Athletic's Jay Harris, former Ivory Coast defender and 2012 AFCON runner-up Sol Bamba joins host Ayo Akinwolere to explore and argue what has contributed to AFCON 2023's remarkable performance.
Ivory Coast, meanwhile, has advanced to the championship game following a stunning comeback that started with manager Jean-Louis Gasset's shocking dismissal mid-tournament.After Ivory Coast lost two of their three group-stage games, including a 4-0 setback to Equatorial Guinea, the French coach was fired. Although it was uncertain whether the host country would advance to the knockout stage at the time of Gasset's dismissal, the Elephants did manage to sneak in as one of the top third-place teams.Since then, Emerse Faé, the interim coach, has guided the team to victories over Senegal, the reigning champion, via penalty shootout in the round of sixteen, Mali in the quarterfinals, and DR Congo in the semifinals, where they prevailed spectacularly in extra time.
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