Borussia Dortmund forward Sebastien Haller received a hero’s welcome from his club teammates after he scored the winning goal for Ivory Coast in the AFCON final. The host nation secured a 2-1 victory over Nigeria, to win their 3rd ever AFCON title.
The West African nation won the AFCON title after a gap of eight years. Sebastien Haller scored a goal in the 81st minute of the match, to help his side clinch the victory. They defeated Victor Osimhen‘s Nigeria to win the coveted continental title. The iconic goal elevated him to the status of a national hero, as he received a rousing reception from his Dortmund team-mates and staff, upon returning to Germany.
Dortmund players eagerly awaited the player’s arrival at their training ground in Brackel, singing chants at the entrance. The Black and Yellow warmly welcomed the striker after his successful tournament. As Haller entered, confetti in his national colors flew, cheers erupted, and he raised his arms in celebration. Captain Emre Can presented him with a canvas picture of his trophy, followed by wishes from the rest of the team.
Moreover, after a successful campaign in Africa, the Ivory Coast forward is now expected to return to the squad for Dortmund’s next match against Wolfsburg. Haller has endured a difficult time this season, scoring just two goals in 14 appearances.
From cancer survivor to AFCON winner: Sebastien Haller has traveled an incredible distance
Starting his career at French second-division side Auxerre, Sebastien Haller has played for clubs in the Netherlands, Germany, and England. He led his side to an AFCON win, after scoring the winning goals in the semi-final and final. However, his path to success has been marked by obstacles.
Following his move from Ajax to Dortmund in the summer of 2022, the 29-year-old forward faced a major setback as he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. However, the footballer underwent several courses of chemotherapy, had surgery, and managed to quickly return to football six months after the diagnosis. He made a short-term impact last season, scoring nine goals in 22 matches.
While, this season, Haller has lost his place to new Dortmund signing Niklas Fullkurg. The situation may now change, and with his recent African success, he may get increased game time.
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