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Hosts Côte d’Ivoire Elephants win AFCON, beat Super Eagles 2-1
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Sebastien Haller scored a dramatic late winner as hosts Ivory Coast fought back to beat Victor Osimhen’s 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.
Nigeria looked set to repeat their 1-0 victory over the Ivorians here at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium during the group stage when captain William Troost-Ekong – who had netted a penalty to decide that first meeting – rose to head in the opener late in the first half.
However, Franck Kessie equalised just after the hour mark and Haller turned in Simon Adingra’s cross in the 81st minute to spark wild celebrations among the sea of orange in the Abidjan stands.
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.
Only Egypt, Cameroon and Ghana have won the title more often, with the Super Eagles squandering the opportunity to match their Ghanaian rivals on four victories.
Spearheaded by reigning African player of the year Osimhen, the Nigerians had looked the most formidable team in the competition over the last month.
But Ivory Coast’s sense of destiny was simply too overpowering, as they became the first host country to win the AFCON since 2006.
Didier Drogba captained the Elephants team that lost on penalties to Egypt in Cairo in that final 18 years ago, while this time he was among the spectators to witness a stunning victory for his country.
– Back from the brink –
It is an incredible achievement for a side that was on the brink of elimination in the group stage after losing 4-0 to Equatorial Guinea on January 22.
That was their heaviest ever home defeat and the Ivorians then parted company with coach Jean-Louis Gasset, replacing him with Emerse Fae, a teammate of Drogba’s in 2006.
They then began a remarkable turnaround which saw them oust holders Senegal on penalties, beat Mali with a last-gasp goal in extra time, and edge out DR Congo with a Haller goal in the last four.
Their supporters packed out the stadium to its 60,000 capacity, with many fans having to watch the game from vantage points on stairways.Related News
Anyone wanting to dampen the excitement levels might have pointed out that Cup of Nations finals tend to be low-scoring affairs.
There were just 10 goals scored in the last 11 finals, five of which were decided on penalties after a 0-0 stalemate.
Indeed, Ivory Coast’s four previous final appearances had all ended goalless before going to penalties, two of which they had won.
This looked set to be another nervy, low-scoring affair with chances few and far between early on.
However, the home side then had a great chance on 34 minutes when Kessie found Adingra on the left and his shot was turned away by Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
That proved crucial as Nigeria went ahead just four minutes later when Ademola Lookman’s corner from the left was touched on and Troost-Ekong headed in from the edge of the six-yard area.
Earlier in the tournament the Ivorians would have crumbled in such a scenario, but they deserve great credit for regrouping at the interval and throwing everything at Nigeria.
Max-Alain Gradel’s netbound shot was blocked in front of the line by Calvin Bassey five minutes after the restart before Nwabali turned an Odilon Kossounou long-range piledriver around the post on 62 minutes.
They drew level from the corner that followed that, as Kessie -– whose late penalty had rescued the hosts against Senegal in the last 16 –- appeared at the back post to head into the net.
It seemed inevitable that a second Ivory Coast goal would follow and it duly did with nine minutes of the 90 to play as Haller got his studs to Adingra’s cross and diverted the ball into the far corner.
Behind for the first time since their opening match, Nigeria could not react, and Ivory Coast held on for victory.
AFP
NFF has announced the appointment of Augustine Eguavoen as interim head coach of Nigeria Super Falcons.
The former Nigeria international will take charge of the Super Falcons for their upcoming 2028 Olympic Games qualifying fixtures against Comoros, as the NFF continues its search for a permanent head coach.
Eguavoen previously guided the Super Eagles to a bronze medal finish at the 2006 AFCON and has also coached the team on an interim basis. He will be assisted by Nasarawa Amazons head coach Christopher Danjuma, while former Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Baruwa joins as goalkeeper trainer. Former Super Falcons defender Ayisat Yusuf will also serve as an assistant coach.
Nigeria received a bye into the second round as one of the three highest-ranked teams in the competition and will face Comoros, with both legs scheduled for the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on October 9 and 13, 2026.
Comoros advanced after defeating Sudan 30-0 on aggregate, with the winner set to face either DR Congo or Morocco in the third round between February 23 and March 6, 2027.
Football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could finally share the pitch as teammates for the first time, with both superstars expected to feature in Carlos Tevez’s long-awaited testimonial match in December.
Messi and Ronaldo have spent much of their careers as fierce rivals, particularly during their years at Barcelona and Real Madrid, when their battle for supremacy dominated world football.
However, their paths could cross on the same side later this year after former Manchester United and Argentina star Tevez revealed plans to bring the two legends together for his testimonial at Boca Juniors’ iconic La Bombonera Stadium.
“Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be there,” Tevez said. “I’ll go pick them myself if I have to. I have both of them on WhatsApp.”
Tevez, who retired from professional football in 2021, has yet to hold a testimonial match despite a glittering career that included spells at Boca Juniors, Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus.
According to reports by A Bola, Boca Juniors president Juan Roman Riquelme has approved Tevez’s request to stage the testimonial at La Bombonera.
Messi and Ronaldo are expected to headline an impressive list of invited former teammates and rivals, including Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon.
Messi played alongside Tevez for Argentina between 2005 and 2015, while Ronaldo and Tevez formed part of Manchester United’s formidable attacking unit alongside Rooney from 2007 to 2009.
The trio helped United win back-to-back Premier League titles, as well as the UEFA Champions League, League Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
If Messi and Ronaldo both honour Tevez’s invitation, the testimonial could deliver a football moment fans have waited years to see: two of the greatest players in history wearing the same colours and sharing the pitch as teammates.
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen and Trabzonspor forward Paul Onuachu may miss Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau later this month due to injuries, The PUNCH reports.
Galatasaray confirmed on Sunday that Osimhen is dealing with a groin injury, while Onuachu was also taken off in the 44th minute after scoring a brace in Trabzonspor’s 5-0 win over Gençlerbirliği.
Osimhen picked up the injury during Galatasaray’s thrilling 3-2 win over Istanbul Basaksehir after scoring the opening goal. He lasted 33 minutes before being substituted.
Onuachu was also reported to have broken his chin during a challenge, with both players adding to the growing list of injury concerns for coach Eric Chelle ahead of the two fixtures.
Already on the treatment table are Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Sadiq Umar, Tochukwu Nnadi and Zaidu Sanusi, who all recently picked up knocks.
In an update provided on Sunday, Galatasaray said Osimhen and midfielder Mario Lemina had suffered moderate-to-advanced strains with bleeding in the right groin area.
“Following the completion of MR and advanced examinations at our sponsor Acıbadem Hospital, advanced-moderate level strain (bleeding and strain) has been detected in the right adductor (groin) muscle group of our footballer Victor Osimhen,” the club said on Sunday.
“Similarly, advanced-moderate level strain (bleeding and strain) has been detected in the right adductor muscle group of our player Mario Lemina, whose examinations have also been completed, and their treatment processes are ongoing.”
The update puts Osimhen in doubt ahead of Nigeria’s September fixtures, with the Super Eagles beginning their 2027 AFCON campaign against Madagascar on September 25 before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau four days later.
The two matches are part of Group L, where Nigeria were drawn alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and co-hosts Tanzania. Only the highest-ranked team apart from automatically qualified Tanzania will advance from the group.
Osimhen’s absence would leave Nigeria without one of their most important attacking players at the start of the campaign.
Missing the window could also delay his climb up Nigeria’s all-time goalscoring chart. The 27-year-old has scored 35 goals for the Super Eagles, two behind the late Rashidi Yekini, who remains the country’s all-time leading scorer with 37 goals.
At club level, Osimhen has also scored six goals and provided two assists in four games this season.
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