Sebastien Haller scored a dramatic late winner as hosts Ivory Coast fought back to beat Nigeria 2-1 in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final and complete the most remarkable of major tournament turnarounds by claiming their third continental title.
Ivory Coast, the hosts of Africa Cup of Nations defeated Nigeria 2-1 to win the tournament for the third time at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan, on Sunday.
William Troost-Ekong, the Nigerian captain handed Nigeria the lead in the 38th minute with a thrilling header.
Former AC Milan and Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie equalized with a header in the 62nd minute from a corner.
In the 81st minute, Borussia Dortmund forward, Sebastian Haller scored an acrobatic winner from Andriga’s cross to the near post.
Cote d’Ivoire’s victory allows them to join Nigeria on the three cup of Nations triumphs overall, having claimed that of 1992 and 2015.
Super Eagle’s failure to win this year’s trophy denied them an opportunity to match their Ghanaian rivals on four victories.
Egypt is the most successful nation in this competition with seven trophies followed by Cameroon with Five and Ghana in the third place with four Africa cups.
Ivory Coast’s success sees them add this year’s title to those claimed in 1992 and 2015, while this win also allows them to join Nigeria on three Cup of Nations triumphs overall.
These two nations met in the group stage of the competition, with Nigeria winning 1-0, and Ivory Coast managed to advance to the knockout round despite losing two of their three group games, including a 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea that saw their fans vandalise players buses.
Ivory Coast navigated their way past Senegal, Mali and Congo while Nigeria overcame Cameroon, Angola and South Africa in the knockout rounds to secure their spot in the final.
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