It was fairly a fairy story and a transition from fortunate survivors to eventual winners for Ivory Coast on Sunday as they had been topped winners of the 2023 TotalEnergies CAF African Cup of Nations.
The crown couldn’t have been higher suited to some other nation than the Ivorians, who virtually misplaced their place early within the event on the expense of advancing to the spherical of 16.
How else are you able to have a good time your victory over arch-rivals than within the presence of your proud 'orange' supporters on dwelling soil?
Ivory Coast, the host nation of this 12 months's event, was positioned in Group A alongside Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
The Ivorians began the match properly, as they gained 2-0 towards Guinea-Bissau.
The hosts later misplaced their final two group stage matches with a 1-0 defeat to Nigerian Tremendous Eagles and a 4-0 thrashing to Equatorial Guinea – their heaviest ever dwelling defeat.
It was surprising! Nevertheless, the Ivorian Soccer Affiliation was not deterred, as turned clear when group coach Jean-Louis Gasset was dismissed after the second defeat in a row.
The Ivorains certified for the eighth finals as one of the best loser with three factors.
Emerse Fae, a former participant and assistant to Gasset, was appointed supervisor of the group.
From then on, the group turned intoxicated with victory and the urge to abolish the event on which the federal government and ardent supporters had spent a lot cash.
Such sources couldn't go to the trash cans, they most likely thought.
Fae led The Elephants to a surprising, surprising 5-4 penalty shootout victory over defending champions Senegal within the spherical of 16, after a full-time draw of 1-1; due to Franck Kessie's late equalizer from the spot.
The victory was an enormous one for the host nation, which had misplaced two vital matches in a row within the event.
Forging with the identical motivation, Ivory Coast pressed on to document one other victory within the quarter-finals.
Ivory Coast got here from behind to increase their maintain and hopes in additional time earlier than Oumar Diakite's successful right-foot shot from shut vary, beating Mali 2–1 to safe their place within the semi-finals.
Fae stored the group motivated and hungry for fulfillment for a rustic that final gained the AFCON in 2015.
Ivorian striker Sebastien Haller (29) got here to the rescue as he scored the one purpose towards DR Congo, giving the group the golden alternative to succeed in the ultimate of the event.
Whereas all roads led to the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan on Sunday, with an official attendance of over 57,000, the Ivorians had been decided to get their long-awaited revenge towards Nigeria, who defeated them within the group stage.
Each groups had been concerned in a really intense match with a complete of 23 shot makes an attempt.
Whereas the Ivorian facet had a lot of the ball to themselves, the Tremendous Eagles broke the impasse seven minutes earlier than half-time with a towering header from captain William Troost-Ekong.
The Nigerian supporters raised their voices in elation, whereas the Ivorians continued to carry on to their religion.
As early because the 62nd minute, Kessie, like Troost-Ekong, drove the ball into the Nigerian purpose to stage the match.
With 9 minutes to go from the tip of the full-time match, Haller stole the present once more when his easy contact of the ball went previous Stanley Nwabali and onto the purpose put up.
The Ivorians gained their third AFCON title stage with Nigeria and have become the primary host nation to win the event since Egypt in 2006.
Fae, who turned 40 the day he turned coach, stated: “All our video games had been troublesome. We all the time needed to come from behind and actually had to make use of all our bodily and psychological reserves.
“I took over after we weren't even certain we’d get out of our group. It was a wierd birthday, however fortunately we obtained a second likelihood and we took it.”
“I can't categorical my pleasure correctly. It's enormous. I dreamed of successful the AFCON as a participant, however that didn't occur,” stated Fae, who performed within the facet that was defeated by Egypt within the 2006 ultimate.
