PREVIEW: Eagles face rejuvenated Elephants in final hurdle to 4th AFCON title

The D-day is finally here. A month of contests, drama and excitement is down to one game: the 58th and most important. The Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on Cote d’Ivoire in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the Olympic Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan.

The last time the Eagles flew this high on the continent was over a decade ago when they won the AFCON in South Africa. The players aim to win Nigeria’s fourth continental title, replicating their predecessors’ achievements in 1980, 1994 and 2013. 

The Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire are more dangerous than ever. They are reborn after their underwhelming group stage performance, which left them on the brink of a humiliating exit. With a boisterous home crowd behind them, they are more than capable of making their own history.

Both teams will face each other later today for the second time in the competition. Who will win when it matters most?

Eagles in Peseiro’s image

The AFCON has provided the highest of highs and the lowest of lows for Nigeria over the past 11 years, and qualification for the final, after their rollercoaster journey in recent years, is an achievement in itself for the Super Eagles.

Since their third AFCON title in 2013, the Super Eagles have struggled to relive the feat. They missed out on the 2015 and 2017 editions, got a bronze medal in 2019 and got knocked out in the quarter-final in Cameroon.

The current crop of players can ensure that the next decade or so is nowhere near as turbulent, given the incredible strength in depth, the quality and the array of talent.

Coach Jose Peseiro has answered his critics at the competition, and this is a Nigerian team moulded mainly in his image — robust, tenacious and difficult to break down. South Africa discovered that to their detriment in the semi-final, as their well-oiled attack could only score from the penalty spot.

It has not all been plain sailing up to this stage; Nigeria needed an equaliser from Victor Osimhen to draw against Equatorial Guinea in their opening match before edging past the host nation and Guinea Bissau to place second in Group A.

A brace from Ademola Lookman helped them defeat Cameroon in the second round, followed by a 1-0 victory over Angola in the quarter-final — and the semi-final win against South Africa courtesy of a penalty shootout

The Eagles have relied on defensive solidity more than attacking flair, but with Ademola Lookman and the likes of Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze in the ranks, they are capable of turning on the style in the final third should the need arise.

The talent at Peseiro’s disposal meant that his side was always among the favourites to lift the trophy. Sunday is therefore an opportunity to kick off a period of dominance which could last for the foreseeable future.

Cote d’Ivoire; reborn and hungry for glory

Cote d’Ivoire’s journey to the final has been described as a sporting miracle, and with the talent they have in their team, it is easy to understate the gravity of the achievement.

The Elephants had to rely on other results to avoid crashing out of the group stage of the AFCON on home soil after a ruthless Equatorial Guinea thrashed them 4-0.

They had earlier humbled Guinea Bissau before suffering a 1-0 loss to Nigeria. Against holders Senegal in the second round, the Ivorians won 5-4 via penalty shootout.

Brought in after the defeat to Equatorial Guinea, interim boss Emerse Fae inspired the Elephants to overcome Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to reach the final.

There is no doubt that the Ivorians have the smatterings of world-class talent such as Sekou Fofana, Simon Adingra, Sebastian Haller and Franck Kessie. Whether the quartet can have as much of an impact against Nigeria remains to be seen — but they will have a lot to worry about with the quick movements of the Super Eagles.

Five of the last six host countries to reach the final have won the tournament, the exception being Nigeria in 2000.

Team news

All eyes will be on Osimhen as the striker looks to emulate Rashidi Yekini, the Eagles’ all-time leading scorer, as an AFCON winner. The achievement would be a fitting finale to a decent tournament from the Napoli attacker.

The main injury doubt for Nigeria is Zaidu Sanusi, who missed out on the win over South Africa. However, the defender is expected to start in the final, and Nigeria will have a fully fit squad for the first time at the tournament.

For Cote d’Ivoire to do the same, Fae must first be satisfied that his players have fully recovered from a gruelling schedule which has seen them play 210 minutes at the knockouts.

Incremental momentum seemed to give the Elephants an extra boost against DRC, and they appeared to get stronger as the game wore on. Fae is unlikely to make any changes if he can avoid it.

There are no new injury concerns for his side. Serge Aurier, Odilon Kossounou and Oumar Diakite will return to the team after missing the semi-final due to suspension.

Nottingham Forest’s Ibrahim Sangare is available to start after playing 29 minutes against DRC.

Sebastian Haller was the Elephants’ main danger man against DRC and he bagged his first goal of the tournament while veteran Max Gradel has shown the younger generation that age is just a number.

Head to head 

The two sides have met on 28 occasions. Nigeria have won nine, the same as the Elephants. Ten of those meetings ended in draws.

Prediction: Nigeria 1-0 Ivory Coast

Cote d’Ivoire have done brilliantly to make it this far, but Nigeria are a step up from what they have faced to this point, and the Super Eagles are hitting their stride at the perfect time. The Nigeria defence looks adequately equipped to curtail the influence of Adingra, Gradel and Haller, hence, Peseiro’s side appears on course to lift the trophy.