East African Gazette
Ivory Coast
The African Cup of Nations 2023 (AFCON) witnessed a remarkable victory for the Elephants (Ivory Coast) as they emerged as the true football kings of the African continent.
Despite years passing since their last triumph, the Elephants showcased their might by defeating the Super Eagles (Nigeria) in a fierce battle, with a final score of 2-1 in their favor.
This unexpected win left everyone astonished, as the Elephants were also the hosts of the tournament. However, they proved their worth by putting up a spirited fight against the Super Eagles, when Franck Kessie scored a draw making it 1:1.
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/COURTESY-PICS.jpg)
Courtesy photo
This victory marks the third time that the Elephants have claimed the prestigious cup, solidifying their status as champions. They won in 1992 and 2015.
Although the Nigerians were left disheartened by their unexpected loss, the atmosphere in the fully packed 60,000 capacity Alassene Quattara stadium was filled with joy and jubilation as the referee blew the final whistle after the intense 90-minute game in the capital city of Abidjan.
It was a moment of celebration, with players exchanging hugs and fans expressing their elation for witnessing yet another historic achievement by the hosts.
Spirited fight
The Elephants, though crowned as winners, offer us profound insights into life.
They remind us that no matter how arduous the path may seem, we must persist and continue striving until we reach our destination.
They showcased their prowess during the group knockout stages and emerged as the top-performing losing team, securing a commendable third place finish.
Their exceptional performance in the quarterfinals propelled them to the semifinals, where they unexpectedly triumphed over the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with a score of Ivory Coast 1:0 DRC.
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/COURTESY-PICS01.jpg)
Courtesy photo
The 38th minute of silence
In the 38th minute, Nigeria capitalized on the opportunity with their center-back, William Troost-Ekong, scoring a goal that silenced the home fans in the stadium.
The atmosphere turned somber as everyone watched in disbelief, with Ivory Coast nationals holding their heads. Meanwhile, the Super Eagles and their supporters celebrated with joy.
Undoubtedly, Nigeria was emerging as the most formidable team in the 2023 AFCON tournament. However, the Elephants surprised everyone with an equalizer in the 62nd minute, thanks to Franck Kessie’s curved header.
This brought renewed hope and jubilation among the fans, ultimately empowering the Elephants to score another goal around the 82nd minute, securing a total of 2 goals and claiming the AFCON third title.
Sebastian Haller of Ivory Coast was rightfully named the man of the match after scoring the winning goal.