The Africa Cup of Nations — one of many wildest, hardest and best soccer tournaments on the planet — is coming to an finish this weekend. Twenty-four groups entered from everywhere in the African continent — from Tunisia within the north to South Africa within the south, from Cabo Verde within the west to Mozambique within the east — however simply two stay: Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire. They will face off Sunday to find out who might be African champion.
Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire know one another nicely. They confronted off within the group stage of this competitors in January. Nigeria received that match 1-0, however a lot has modified for each groups on their path to the African championship.
Nigeria entered the event as perennial favorites. As probably the most populous nation in Africa, expectations are at all times excessive for Nigeria’s Tremendous Eagles. They’re three-time African champions (1980, 1994 and 2013) and frequent World Cup qualifiers. That includes well-known gamers equivalent to Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Leicester City‘s Kelechi Iheanacho, Fulham’s Alex Iwobi and AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze, Nigeria was anticipated to dominate.
Whereas Nigeria earned its spot within the remaining honest and sq., “domination” hasn’t precisely been on the playing cards. It sailed by way of the group stage with out shedding however solely managed to attain one purpose in every of its three video games. It carried out a bit higher towards Cameroon within the Spherical of 16 however struggled mightily towards Angola within the quarterfinals, profitable 1-0. It performed out 120 stalemate minutes towards South Africa within the semis earlier than squeaking by way of on a penalty shootout.
For Nigeria to win the championship, it should be extra scientific in entrance of purpose as a result of Cote D’Ivoire has two issues Nigeria would not: home-field benefit and an avalanche of constructive momentum.
Cote D’Ivoire, as host of this event, was additionally anticipated to carry out nicely. It is a nation with a wealthy soccer custom. Longtime followers of the game will little doubt keep in mind Ivorian superstars Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Eboue and Gervinho.
However this explicit Ivorian classic entered the event struggling underneath French coach Jean-Louis Gasset.
It received its opening match towards Guinea-Bissau however misplaced 1-0 to Nigeria in sport two. On the verge of an early elimination, Cote D’Ivoire wanted to win towards tiny Equatorial Guinea in sport three to lock down its place within the knockout rounds. It did not, stunningly shedding 4-0.
Sure of Cote D’Ivoire’s pending elimination and livid with its underperformance, the crew sacked coach Jean-Louis Gasset shortly after the Equatorial Guinea defeat. However in a weird coincidence, ends in different matches meant that Cote D’Ivoire wasn’t eradicated in any case — it certified for the following spherical within the remaining obtainable seed. The Ivorians rejoiced, however they knew what was coming: a match towards Senegal, the defending champions, with no everlasting coach on the sidelines.
Swiftly appointed interim coach Emerse Faé led his crew to a shock 1-1 draw with Senegal. When it got here right down to penalties, Côte D’Ivoire received — and the crew’s turnaround was full.
“I advised the gamers we had been lifeless after the defeat towards Equatorial Guinea,” Faé stated after the win. “We had been resurrected.”
Two spirited wins adopted — a 2-1 extra-time comeback towards Mali within the quarterfinals and an assured 1-0 towards the Congo within the semis. Immediately, Cote D’Ivoire wasn’t merely again from the lifeless. It was higher than it had ever been.
Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire will face off for the African championship in Abidjan on Sunday.