Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria to contest unprecedented Africa Cup final
The 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) being held in Côte d'Ivoire will have an unprecedented final, the host will face Nigeria in the final to be played next Sunday.
Côte d'Ivoire overcame the Democratic Republic of Congo in the semi-finals thanks to a solitary goal from Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastian Haller, which sent the Ivorians through to the final.
The striker met Max Gradel's cross into the box in the 65th minute and volleyed a difficult ball past the Congolese goalkeeper for the winner to send his nation through to the CAN final.
Haller started for the first time in the competition after recovering from an ankle injury. In addition, Côte d'Ivoire were missing four players who were suspended after a tough qualifying match against Mali.
With the score in their favour, Côte d'Ivoire managed to keep control of the game despite the Congolese onslaught.
Côte d'Ivoire closed out the victory in front of a rapturous crowd of just over 60,000 fans at the Stade Alassane Ouattara.
For the Côte d'Ivoire side, Sunday's final will be their fifth. They won two, in 1992 and 2015, and were runners-up in two others (2006 and 2012).
A major milestone for the national team coached by Emerse Faé, a former player who took charge of the team after coach Jean-Louise Gasset was sacked in the middle of the competition when the team struggled to reach the last 16 of the competition. Despite finally reaching the last 16 of the competition, the coach was sacked and the team was taken over by former player and assistant coach Emerse Faé, who took over just hours before the Round of 16 match against tough Senegal, whom he was able to eliminate in the end.
It is important to note that Faé was born in Nantes, France, and was capped by France at youth level, became an Ivorian citizen and in 2005 decided to play for his parents' country of origin. After a playing career that included two spells in French football (Nantes and Nice), the now coach of the Ivorian national team also played for Reading in England. As a coach, his first experience was also in his country of birth - he managed Clermont Foot 63 B for one season - until he was appointed coach of his country, with whom he played at the 2006 World Cup in Germany as a player.
Nigeria in extremis
Côte d'Ivoire booked their place in Sunday's final against Nigeria, who previously beat South Africa on penalties. The Nigerians eliminated the South Africans on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili was the national hero, saving two penalties in the shootout. For the decisive meeting with South Africa, Nigeria brought back star striker Victor Osimhen, who played a key role in the move that led to the 1-0 penalty for the Green Eagles led by Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro.
The penalty was converted by captain Troost Ekong in the 66th minute. Osimhen's potential second Nigerian goal was then disallowed by VAR in the 84th minute and shortly after came the penalty in favour of the South Africans. Teboho Mokoena, who had secured victory over Morocco in the previous round, was on hand to level the match in the 89th minute from the spot and send it to a penalty shootout, where Nwabili emerged as Nigeria's saviour to send his side into Sunday's final against Côte d'Ivoire. The Nigerians will be looking for their fourth title after winning the championships in 1980, 1994 and 2013.