Nigeria vs Ivory Coast: Key stats, team news, predictions, time… AFCON 2023 final details

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will battle hosts Ivory Coast in delayed Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 final on Sunday 11th February, 2024 to determine who will win the champions Africa.

The tournament hosts Ivory Coast secured their spot in the final on Wednesday night by defeating the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1-0.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles advanced from the semi-finals after defeating South Africa 4-2 in an exciting penalty shootout.

Nigeria appeared formidable from the outset, with plans to advance far in the competition.

Their success thus far has been largely attributed to their strong defence, which has allowed just two goals in six games excluding penalty shootout goals.

Nigeria has only conceded 16 goals in 28 AFCON games since they last conceded three goals in an Africa Cup of Nations match against Egypt in 2010. Of those 16 goals, only eight—including one at the tournament this year have come from open play.

Ademola Lookman scored all three goals as Nigeria defeated Cameroon 2-0 in the round of 16 and Angola 1-0 in the quarterfinals, capping a comfortable victory over Ivory Coast in Group A to secure a second place finish in the Group with seven points, only trailing Equatorial Guinea on goal difference.

In Wednesday’s semi-finals, they were pushed all the way by South Africa, as Teboho Mokoena’s penalty in the ninetieth minute overturned William Troost-Ekong’s own penalty kick to force extra time. subsequently, Nigeria prevailed 4-2 in a shootout to complete the job.

Nigeria has only made two appearances in the final this century, having lost to Cameroon in 2000. This will be their first since defeating Burkina Faso in the 2013 showpiece.

If they win on Sunday, they will tie Ghana for the most AFCON titles with four, a record only surpassed by Cameroon (five) and Egypt (seven). Meanwhile, Ivory Coast wants to match the Super Eagles’ three AFCON titles.

On the other hand, Ivory Coast’s journey to the final was rocky. They played badly in their group games, losing to Nigeria 1-O and embarrassingly to Equatorial Guinea 4-0. They also fired their coach in the middle of the tournament.

They were only one of the four best losers to advance to the Round of 16. That came about as a result of their 2-0 victory over Guinea Bissau on January 13th, the competition’s opening day.

However, the Elephants overcame all other challenges after narrowly missing out on Group A, as they defeated Senegal 5–4 on penalties in the round of 16.

The Elephants dramatically defeated Mali, 2-1 in the quarterfinal to set up a semi-final matchup with DR Congo. After defeating DR Congo, the hosts have secured a rematch in the final with Nigeria.

Faé’s team would become the first to win the Africa Cup of Nations as hosts since Egypt did so in 2006 if they overcome the Super Eagles on Sunday.

The Elephants have won AFCON twice, in 1992 and 2015, but Nigeria has won the trophy three times, in 1980, 1994, and 2013.

The continental tournament have been won by seven host nations on different occasions in the past. These are Sudan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Algeria, South Africa, Tunisia, and Nigeria.

This will be Nigeria and Ivory Coast’s eighth meeting at the AFCON. Nigeria has won three of those meetings, Ivory Coast won two and the other two ended in draws, including in all three AFCON editions where the Super Eagles have won the competition.

See also: AFCON 2023: Nsue, Lookman… Top scorers so far

NIGERIA VS IVORY COAST TIME AND VENUE

Kick-off date is Sunday 11th February, 2024.

Kick-off time is 9pm WAT

Venue is Stade Alassane Ouattara

AFCON FINAL FACTS

The two most common scorelines in AFCON final results are 1-0 which have been played eight times and 0-0 seven times. Only two finals – Tunisia in 2004 and Cameron in 2017 did not end in 1-0 or 0-0 since 2002, both finals ended in 2-1 victories.

NIGERIA VS IVORY COAST TEAM NEWS 

Given that they rotated their team far less than Ivory Coast, who were struggling mightily to maintain unity earlier in the competition, Nigeria might have the more worn-out starting lineup for the AFCON final.

Coach Jose Peseiro doesn’t have any new injury concerns from the semifinal, and Victor Osimhen and fellow Serie A player Ademola Lookman should make them strong offensively.

While Only a few players from the Ivory Coast, including Seko Fofana, Franck Kessie, and Evan Ndicka, have been consistent members of the squad. Almost entirely on the strength of their spirit, Les Elephants appear to have advanced to the final instead of outstanding performances during the competition.

Because of this, manager Emerse Fae has little motive to change most of his starting lineup from the semifinal matchup with DR Congo. The line will once again be led by Sebastien Haller, but Max Gradel may be replaced on the right wing by Nicolas Pepe.

NIGERIA PREDICTED STARTING LINE-UP 

Nwabali, Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Brassey, Osayi-Samuel, Onyeka, Iwobi, Aina, Simon, Lookman, Osimhen.

IVORY COAST PREDICTED STARTING LINE-UP 

Fofana, Aurier, Boly, Ndicka, Konan, Kessie, Seri, Fofana, Pepe, Haller, Adingra.

NIGERIA VS IVORY COAST PREDICTION

The hosts, Ivory Coast have momentum and physical edge over Nigeria heading into the final on Sunday.

But With players like Osimhen, Lookman and Moses Simon up front, Nigeria should be able to get the job done if Jose Peseiro gets his tactics right once again

PREDICTION 2-1 in favour of the Super Eagles

See also: Revealed: See how much AFCON 2023 winners will earn