Nigeria vs Ivory Coast: CAF AFCON 2023 remaining preview | Africa Cup of Nations News | USAEMALL.com

Who: Nigeria vs Ivory Coast
What: CAF AFCON 2023 remaining
When: Sunday, February 11, 2024, 20:00 GMT
Where: Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro has sought to minimize his facet’s tag as favourites for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations crown whereas speaking up his misfiring African footballer of the yr Victor Osimhen.

The Super Eagles face the hosts, Ivory Coast, who they beat 1-0 within the group stage within the remaining on the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday.

The Elephants had been practically eradicated on the first hurdle having additionally misplaced to Equatorial Guinea within the remaining group-stage match, and parted firm with their supervisor Jean-Louis Gasset whereas they awaited clarification as to whether or not they would progress as one of many 4 greatest third-placed finishers.

“There is no favourite for the final,” insisted the Portuguese coach. “Each side has a 50 percent chance, but we are determined to win this final.”

Osimhen, meantime, has beforehand acquired reward from his coach for his work fee and performances on the match.

The Napoli striker earned his facet a degree in Nigeria’s opening match in opposition to Equatorial Guinea however has but to search out the web once more.

“He doesn’t play like he is the star. He fights for the team and is completely unselfish,” stated Peseiro.

“He knows he is an important player and he gives us the best energy. He has suffered a lot in this tournament with all the attention he receives from the opposing defenders because he knows it is a team game.”

Ivory Coast’s interim coach Emerse Fae was not his nation’s first alternative to switch the outgoing Gasset but now he leads his nation within the remaining.

Now Fae can now be part of an elite checklist of Africa Cup of Nations-winning managers simply weeks after taking cost of a senior match for the primary time.

It could be a unprecedented achievement for the 40-year-old French-born former Ivorian worldwide, who performed for his nation within the 2006 remaining – albeit on the dropping facet.

He had been assistant to Gasset during the last 18 months so was effectively versed in what occurred and what wanted to be accomplished.

“We had difficult days emotionally and mentally and we came through the back door,” admitted Fae. “Losing 4-0 at home was terrible, and then afterwards we had to wait. Honestly, it was very difficult to work, to heal the wounds while crossing your fingers.”

Fae made a number of key adjustments and the Ivorians confirmed spectacular psychological fortitude in overcoming holders Senegal within the final 16 and neighbours Mali within the quarterfinal, coming from behind in each matches.

Their semifinal victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo continued the comeback. Local press have dubbed Fae the “Special One”.

“No, no, no, that’s not true,” he replied on Saturday when requested concerning the tag first used for Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.

“It has been a collective to get us all here.”

Nigeria’s gamers to observe

The African footballer of the yr has but to search out his goalscoring contact at this match however has gained reward from his coach for his work fee and performances.

Ademola Lookman

The former Everton ahead scored all three objectives his facet managed within the spherical of 16 and quarterfinal wins in opposition to Cameroon and Angola. Where Osimhen is drawing the eye of quite a few opposition gamers each out and in of possession, it has created openings for others which Lookman has totally taken benefit of.

William Troost-Ekong

The captain has been a frontrunner in each sense for his facet. The rock of the facet’s defence, which has solely conceded two objectives on the match, Troost-Ekong has additionally scored two penalties, together with one in opposition to Ivory Coast within the group, in regular time and netted within the shootout win in opposition to South Africa.

Ivory Coast’s gamers to observe

Sebastian Haller

The Borussia Dortmund striker was solely match sufficient to start out for the primary time within the match in opposition to DRC within the semifinal. It was his objective, albeit considerably of a miss-kick, that despatched the Elephants to the ultimate. As a lot as an Ivorian win could be an unimaginable redemption at this version, it might additionally mark a exceptional comeback for Haller, who was recognized with testicular most cancers in 2022.

Simon Adingra

The Brighton and Hove Albion winger is turning into one thing of a sensation on the match and is undoubtedly a fan favorite among the many host nation’s supporters. Every time the ball arrives at Adingra’s ft the extent of expectation and quantity contained in the venues raise. It was Adingra who netted the Ninetieth-minute equaliser in opposition to Mali within the semifinal that took the tie to further time.

Franck Kessie

The midfielder signed for Al-Alhi within the Saudi Pro League final yr having been one of many hottest properties in European soccer for a while. The 27-year-old joined Serie A membership Atalanta as a young person earlier than being snapped up by Italian giants AC Milan in 2019. Barcelona introduced Kessie, who has been a driving pressure within the centre of the park, to Spain in 2022 earlier than his transfer to Saudi Arabia.

Form information

Nigeria: W W W W W
Ivory Coast: L L W W W

Prize cash

Champions: $7m
Runners-up: $4m

Head-to-head report:

Matches: 12
Nigeria gained: 4
Ivory Coast gained: 6
Draws: 2

Team information

Nigeria will hope there isn’t any repeat of the belly grievance that resulted in Osimhen having to journey a day later than the remainder of the squad for his or her semifinal.

Left-back Zaidu Sanusi missed the semifinal with South Africa because of a hamstring harm however might be given a late-fitness take a look at within the run-up to the ultimate, having been a continuing previous to the assembly with Bafana Bafana.

Nigeria’s predicted beginning XI: Stanley Nwabali, Semi Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman.

Ivory Coast welcome again the suspended pairing of Odilon Kossounou and Oumar Diakire, each of whom had been despatched off within the quarterfinal win in opposition to Mali. Kossounou was a starter in that sport and is predicted to return to the defence rather than Willy Bolly.

Ivory Coast’s predicted beginning XI: Yahia Fofana, Wilfried Singo, Odilon Kossounou, Evan Ndicka, Ghislain Konan, Frank Kessié, Jean-Michael Seri, Seko Fofana, Max Gradel, Sebastian Haller, Simon Adingra.