Ivory Coast won the Africa Cup of Nations for a third time on Sunday by beating Nigeria 2-1 in the final.
Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller got the goals for the host nation after William Troost-Ekong had given Nigeria a first-half lead.
Seko Fofana and Serge Aurier also featured for Ivory Coast in Sunday's final, while 2023 African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen was on the losing team.
These two teams had met earlier in the tournament when Nigeria won 1-0 during the group phase.
Troost-Ekong scored the only goal of that game and he netted again to put Nigeria in front 38 minutes into Sunday's final.
The former Watford defender headed home powerfully from eight yards after Ademola Lookman's corner kick had been flicked on at the near post.
William Troost Ekong gets the first goal in the #AfCON2023 final!
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 11, 2024
Captain fantastic
@beINSPORTSUSA pic.twitter.com/S9Kf8zE3vU
That goal came against the run of play, after Ivory Coast had dominated the contest in terms of possession and chances.
The hosts continued to look like the better side after falling behind and deservedly equalized in the 62nd minute when ex-Barcelona midfielder nodded in from a Simon Adingra corner.
Ivory Coast answers back through Franck Kessie!
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 11, 2024
Game on
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Adingra also assisted the winning goal, which arrived 19 minutes later when his wicked cross from the left was diverted into the net by a deft touch off Haller's outstretched right boot.
Haller's goal sent the crowd at Alassane Ouattara Stadium wild, including former captain Didier Drogba.
A TALE OF REDEMPTION
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) February 11, 2024
Sebastián Haller, after everything he's been through, is bringing his nation closer to clinching victory at home
Watch #Nigeria vs #IvoryCoast LIVE NOW on #beINSPORTS #NGRCIV #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023Final pic.twitter.com/bRBXEvzcJO
Sunday's victory over Nigeria came 18 days after Jean-Louis Gasset had lost his job as Ivory Coast manager.
The Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) dismissed Gasset on January 24 after Les Elephants had been beaten in two of their three group games.
It looked as though the tournament hosts were set for an early exit, but results elsewhere eventually meant that three points were enough to take them through to the round of 16.
The FIF tried but failed to hire Herve Renard to lead the team into the knockout stage, leaving Emerse Fae in the role of interim head coach.
Fae oversaw a penalty-shootout victory over reigning champions Senegal in the last 16, followed by a 2-1 win over Mali in the quarter-finals thanks to a 122nd-minute winner by Oumar Diakite.
DR Congo were then beat 1-0 in the semi-final before Fae's side got the better of three-time champions Nigeria in Sunday's finale.
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