*Galant Eagles pick silver medal
*South Africe Bronze medal
Host of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Cote d’Ivoire Sunday night, took a sweet revenge on Nigeria, coming from behind to win 2-1 and lift the converted gold Cup of the tournament.
The Elephants, had lost to Nigeria by a lone goal when both teams met in Group A during the stage elimination of the tournament.
During the final match, the Elephants of Cote D’ivoire dominated the game from the blast of the referee’s whistle, making dangerous invursions and devastating passes though it yielded a barren score for them.
They, however, went into shock in the 38 minute when the Super Eagles got a corner kick on the left flank during which Ademola Lookman found the foot of Samuel Chukwueze, who flicked the round robbin to the Eagles skipper, William Troost-Ekong, who headed past the Elephant’s goalkeeper, Fofana, for the opener.
That feat surpasses Stephen Keshi’s record as the highest-scoring defender in AFCON history.
The however the Elephants came back smoking after the goal and continued their dominance in the game, leveling scores in the 62nd minute, that is the second half, when unmarked Franck Kessie headed past fantastic Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to get an equalizer at the 60,000-capacity Olympique Alassane Ouattara Stadium, D’Ebimpe, Abidjan.
The hosts took the game beyond the Eagles in the 81st minute when Sebastien Haller stuck out a leg to turn Simon Adingra’s cross past the keeper Nwabali, as Ekong failed to challenge strongly.
They continued their onslaught putting the Eagles on the edge till the end of the match, which ended atseven minutes extra time after the regulation 90 minutes.
