Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ifeanyi Ibeh
Published on 2024-02-10 05:00:32
The 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final will see the Super Eagles of Nigeria battle the Elephants of Ivory Coast at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium. Nigeria secured their place in the final after a tense 1-1 draw with South Africa, ultimately winning 4-2 on penalties.
This will mark the eighth time the Super Eagles will be contesting the final of the AFCON. Their previous seven final appearances include:
1980 AFCON (Gold): Nigeria clinched their first AFCON title when they hosted the tournament, defeating Algeria 3-0 in the final.
1984 AFCON (Silver): Despite reaching the final, Nigeria lost to Cameroon, with a 3-1 defeat after taking an early lead.
1988 AFCON (Silver): Nigeria lost 1-0 to Cameroon, with controversy surrounding the officiating from the match.
1990 AFCON (Silver): Despite a disappointing start, Nigeria reached the final and put up a strong performance in a 1-0 loss to host country, Algeria.
1994 AFCON (Gold): Nigeria’s golden generation secured their second AFCON title with a 2-1 victory over Zambia in the final.
2000 AFCON (Silver): Despite high expectations, Nigeria lost to Cameroon in the final, with the match decided by a penalty shootout.
2013 AFCON (Gold): Against the odds, Nigeria won their third AFCON title with a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso.
Despite success and heartbreak in previous finals, Nigeria has left a lasting impact on the tournament over the years. Notably, their 1980 triumph as hosts, their golden generation securing the title in 1994, and their unexpected victory in 2013.
For both Nigeria and Ivory Coast, the upcoming final presents an opportunity to add to their respective legacies in African football. As the two teams prepare to go head-to-head, fans eagerly anticipate a hard-fought and memorable final showdown at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
