2024-02-12 08:58:19
Everything you need to know about the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals
İdman.biz presents an article with a link to livesport.ru.
This year’s Africa Cup of Nations has been full of incredible drama and now we’re in for a showpiece finale.
Nigeria, who are hoping to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the fourth time, will face hosts and two-time winners Ivory Coast in the decider on the evening of Sunday 11 February.
The two teams had previously met in the group stage, with Nigeria winning 1-0, and took very different routes to the final.
Jean-Louis Gasse managed Ivory Coast in this match, but was sacked and replaced by his assistant Emers Fae after a humiliating 0-4 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in their last group stage game, which left the Ivorians nervous before than they qualified for the playoffs as one of the top third-place teams.
However, then the owners came to life; After dispatching defending champions Senegal on penalties in the round of 16, they beat Mali in thrilling fashion in the quarter-finals, which also went to extra time, and then won 1-0 against DR Congo in the semi-finals.
Nigeria, who were unbeaten in the tournament and conceded just two goals in six matches, played hard and composed throughout the campaign, with their only real threat coming in the semi-finals when they beat South Africa on penalties after an outstanding performance.
Will Ivory Coast become the first host nation to become African champions since Egypt in 2006? Or will Nigeria spoil the celebration to repeat its triumphs achieved in 1980, 1994 and 2013?
The Athletic previews the most anticipated African Cup final in years.
Why should we look forward to this ending?
Both teams are showing quality football, and the Ivory Coast team has improved significantly since the group stage. And with strikers Sebastien Aalle and Simon Adingra healthy and fit, the team posed a much greater threat in the semi-final against DR Congo.
The home side scored just one goal but had 14 shots on target throughout the game, with Aalle and Adingra missing a couple of good chances and Franck Kessier hitting the post.
Nigeria had to be the most entertaining team in this tournament due to the amount of incredible talent in their attack.
And while Jose Peseiro’s team did work as a unit at times, watching them gives the distinct impression that they could have done even better.
Both of these teams have been in decent form in the playoffs and it’s hard to say who has the advantage.
All in all, it really is a dream final: the hosts, who narrowly missed out on elimination in the group stage but returned to action, face the most talented team of the tournament, who also comes from Africa’s most populous country.
What does Nigeria have in store for its opponent?
Peseiro’s team, who as mentioned have only conceded twice in the tournament, use a 3-4-3 formation that is difficult to break down and favors their counter-attacking style, which poses a huge threat to their opponents.
Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon have the freedom to play high up the pitch thanks to the structure behind them and, once they receive the ball, can quickly take advantage of opposition players being pulled out of their positions.
Osimhen is one of the brightest talents in world football and it was his superb possession that helped Nigeria earn a penalty in the crunch time of the semi-final.
Lookman is his country’s top scorer in the tournament, having scored three goals so far, including twice in a stunning 2-0 win over Cameroon in the round of 16.
If Ivory Coast wants to have any chance of winning, they just need to shut down these two players.
What has Côte d’Ivoire prepared?
“This qualification came from God, and now anything is possible.”
Ever since Ivory Coast entered the knockout stages as one of the top four third-placed teams in the group stage, there was a sense in the host nation that they were destined to win this Africa Cup of Nations. They were on the verge of relegation more than once, but always found a way to get out.
Kessier scored a late equalizer against Senegal as they beat Mali despite playing with ten men for most of the match after Odilon Kossounou was sent off, while Allais’ shot bounced well over DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi in the semi-final.
Two and a half weeks ago, Ivory Coast were the laughing stock of their home tournament. Now they are one victory away from becoming African champions.
With the support of a vocal fanbase and the belief that luck is on their side, the host nation is confident that it can complete this amazing story arc.
Which Nigerian players should you watch out for?
Osimhen, the reigning African Footballer of the Year, scored only one goal in the tournament but played a vital role in Nigeria’s success.
The 25-year-old relentlessly pressed defenders to create space for his teammates, which led to Lookman’s first goal against Cameroon.
Caretaker coach Fay has made several changes to Ivory Coast’s back line over the last three games due to injuries and suspensions and now needs to find a better formula to stop Osimhen.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is also an important figure for the Nigerians. The 27-year-old, who made his only cap in 2021, has replaced Francis Uzoho as No. 1 this year and has coped well with the pressure so far.
He was the hero of the semi-final penalty shoot-out triumph over South Africa and if Nwabali can deliver again, this will make for an incredible debut tournament at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Which Ivorian players should you pay attention to?
Thirteen months ago, Alle returned to the German club Borussia Dortmund after several operations and chemotherapy to remove a testicular tumor.
It’s a remarkable recovery story that would have ended in grand style if he could have led Ivory Coast to glory.
Allais didn’t make his first appearance in the tournament until the round of 16 due to an ankle injury, but he immediately contributed with a clever through ball that earned Nicolas Pepe a penalty.
The 29-year-old is physically dominant and his former Eintracht head coach Niko Kovac once said that “not even a bulldozer can move (him).”
His battle with Nigeria captain and centre-back William Troost-Ekong will be interesting to watch and if he wins enough aerial duels in the opposition half his teammates should find themselves in promising situations.
Kessier also played well in the tournament, while Jean-Michel Sery has greatly improved the balance of the team since he began operating in the holding midfield area.
What is the key personal battle of the finale?
Adingra did not help Ivory Coast much early in the tournament as he was still recovering from a hamstring injury, but he became a more important player in the knockout stages and was named in the starting line-up for the first time in the semi-finals.
The 22-year-old’s deft dribbling and neat combinations with Aalle and Kessier make Ivory Coast more effective when attacking.
Ola Aina, Nigeria’s right-back, likes to push forward and support Lookman or Simon in the overlap. Adingra will have to move back to help his defense, but be ready to take advantage of the space that Aina opens up.
The ideal scenario for him would be that he could avoid Ain and have plenty of opportunities to directly attack centre-backs Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Troost-Ekong.
Some statistics to keep in mind
Nigeria have not conceded a single goal from play in this tournament since the 36th minute of their opening group stage match, when Ivan Salvador scored for Equatorial Guinea.
All four previous Africa Cup of Nations finals involving Ivory Coast ended 0-0 and ended in penalty shootouts.
They won two of these penalty shootouts (in 1992 and 2015, both against Ghana) and lost two (in 2006 against Egypt and in 2012 against Zambia).
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