Hosts Ivory Coast Face Nigeria in Nations Cup Final

At the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Nations Cup), which will determine the strongest country in African football, hosts Ivory Coast and Nigeria will compete for the championship.

Ivory Coast advanced to the final by beating the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in the semifinals of the tournament at Stade Olympique Alasan Watara in Ivory Coast on the 8th.

Ivory Coast, ranked 49th in the FIFA rankings, will try to win its third trophy in nine years since 2015.

Ivory Coast’s Sebastien Ale fired a right-footed volley from the left penalty area in the 20th minute of the second half, and the ball that was bounced once into the net at the top of the net beyond the goalkeeper, becoming the first winning goal.

Nigeria (42nd) also advanced to the final by winning 4-2 in the penalty shootout after a tight match against South Africa (66th) for 120 minutes until extra time.

Nigeria will try to win for the fourth time in 11 years since 2013.

Nigeria took a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute of the second half when William Truist Ekong scored a penalty kick.

However, in the 45th minute of the second half, South Africa’s Tebo Mokoena gave up a penalty kick to allow a tie.

The two teams, which failed to score additional points in the first and second half of the extended period, entered a penalty shootout.

Nigeria had a 3-2 lead until the fourth kicker, and Kelechi Iheanacho, who was the fifth kicker, kicked the ball neatly to determine the match.

The final match between Ivory Coast and Nigeria will be held on the 12th.

The third-place match between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo was scheduled for the 11th, a day earlier. 파워볼실시간