TOPS
After overcoming testicular cancer a year ago, the Borussia Dortmund striker played his first African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast. A competition that he started in the round of 16 against Senegal, finally recovering from an ankle injury. Like his selection, Haller gained momentum throughout the tournament, after a group stage which almost sent him home, without even setting foot on the pitch. Finally, the coin fell on his side. Decisive against the Senegalese, scorer against the Democratic Republic of Congo (1-0) in the semi-finals, he completed his work with the decisive goal of 2-1, the one which will remain in the memories, during this final won against Nigeria . A few moments after a scissor returned off target, number 22 of the Elephants adjusted the sights with another acrobatic gesture, causing the Alassane-Ouattara Olympic stadium in Abidjan to explode. In the great history written by Côte d’Ivoire during “its” CAN 2023-2024, Sébastien Haller played a leading role. Heroic.
The pressure of a final at home paradoxically disinhibited Franck Kessié and Simon Adingra, authors of a great performance. The first city, like against Senegal, revived its selection by equalizing with a furious header, being also in the oven and at the mill in the construction and recovery. And what about the Brighton wisp, elected man of the match thanks to his two assists. Incisive in his dribbling, very fast, Adingra put his direct opponent Ola Aina through an ordeal. He too will remain as one of the X factors of the Ivorian course after scoring the equalizing goal against Mali in the quarter. At just 22 years old, he guided the Elephants to success tonight. Great art.
If Côte d’Ivoire lifts its third African Cup this Sunday (1992, 2015, 2024) in five contested finals, it owes it largely to its coach, who replaced Jean-Louis Gasset at short notice afterwards. of the rout against Equatorial Guinea (0-4) in group play. Having gone from assistant to number 1 coach, the former international will go down in history for having revived a group in distress as the final phase approached. Firefighter on duty, Emerse Faé got everything right in his choice of men and his tactics. His emotion and his tears at the final whistle spoke volumes about the magnitude of his mission, which he accomplished with a masterful hand.
FLOPS
The African Ballon d’Or dreamed of it, the continental title ended up escaping him in the second half. Author of a goal and an assist in seven matches in this CAN, the Neapolitan striker had shone so far with his combativeness and his leadership in the effort. This Sunday evening, he again acted in the shadows but did not even have an opportunity to get his teeth into it. The Ivorians Ndicka and Kossounou managed to contain him, even causing gestures of frustration from the former Lille player. After the break, Osimhen failed to get his head above water, like all of his teammates. A heartbreak for the Nigerian star
Voted best player of the competition, the captain of the Super Eagles will have done everything to hope to lift the trophy in Abidjan. At the first opportunity, he threw a chill over Côte d’Ivoire by scoring his third goal in seven games (two penalties including one scored against the Elephants in the group stage). But on arrival, he was unable to prevent Nigeria’s fifth defeat in eight CAN finals despite a second opportunity, with a header, in the second half. His honorary trophy for best player will barely console the PAOK Salonika defender, beaten in the duel by Haller on the second Ivorian goal. Troost-Ekong, author of an exemplary African Cup, undoubtedly deserved better. Problem, the Nigerian selection was betrayed by its too wait-and-see tactics for 90 minutes.