WHO: Nigeria vs Ivory Coast
What you do : CAF AFCON 2023 Remaining
By the point: Sunday 11 February 2024, 20:00 GMT
The place: Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro has sought to minimize his group's tag as favorites for the 2023 African Cup of Nations crown whereas speaking about his African Footballer of the Yr Victor Osimhen.

The Tremendous Eagles face the hosts, Ivory Coast, who they beat 1-0 within the group stage within the ultimate on the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday.

The Elephants have been nearly eradicated on the first hurdle after additionally shedding to Equatorial Guinea of their ultimate group stage match, and have parted methods with their supervisor Jean-Louis Gasset as they await clarification on whether or not they’ll advance as 'and one of many 4 finest third. – positioned finishers.

“There isn’t any favourite for the ultimate,” insisted the Portuguese coach. “Either side has a 50 p.c probability, however we’re decided to win this ultimate.”

Osimhen, in the meantime, has already obtained reward from his coach for his work charge and performances within the match.

The Napoli striker earned his facet some extent in Nigeria's opening sport towards Equatorial Guinea however has but to search out the again of the web.

“He doesn't play like he's the star. He fights for the group and is totally selfless,” mentioned Peseiro.

“He is aware of he is a vital participant and he provides us the very best vitality. He has suffered quite a bit on this match with all the eye he receives from opposing defenders as a result of he is aware of it’s a group sport.”

Ivory Coast interim coach Emerse Fae was not his nation's first selection to interchange the outgoing Gasset, however he’s now main his nation into the ultimate.

Now Fae can now be a part of an elite checklist of Africa Cup of Nations successful managers simply weeks after taking cost of a senior match for the primary time.

It will be a rare achievement for the 40-year-old French-born former Ivorian worldwide, who performed for his nation within the 2006 ultimate – albeit on the shedding facet.

He had been Gasset's assistant for the previous 18 months, so he was effectively versed in what occurred and what wanted to be achieved.

“We had troublesome days emotionally and mentally and we got here by way of the again door,” admitted Fae. “Shedding 4-0 at house was horrible, after which we needed to wait. Truthfully, it was very troublesome to work, to heal the cross wounds and fingers.

Fae made a number of key modifications and the Ivorians confirmed spectacular psychological energy in overcoming holders Senegal within the final 16 and neighbors Mali within the quarter-finals, coming from behind in each video games.

Their semi-final victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo continued the comeback. The native press known as Fae the “Particular One”.

“No, no, no, it's not true,” he replied on Saturday when requested concerning the tag beforehand used for Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.

“It was a collective to return all right here.”

Nigeria gamers to observe

The African Footballer of the Yr has but to search out his goalscoring contact on this match however has earned reward from his coach for his work charge and performances.

Ademola Lookman

The previous Everton ahead scored all three objectives his facet managed within the spherical of 16 and quarter-final wins towards Cameroon and Angola. The place Osimhen drew the eye of quite a few opposition gamers each in possession and out of possession, he created openings for others which Lookman took full benefit of.

William Troost-Ekong

The captain has been a pacesetter in each sense for his facet. The rock of the facet's protection, which conceded simply two objectives within the match, Troost-Ekong additionally scored two penalties, together with one towards Ivory Coast within the group, in regular time and netted within the victory of shootout towards South Africa.

Ivory Coast gamers to observe

Sebastian Haller

The Borussia Dortmund striker was solely match sufficient to start out for the primary time within the match towards the DRC within the semi-final. It was his purpose, albeit a little bit of a miss-kick, that despatched the Elephants to the ultimate. As a lot as an Ivorian victory could be an unimaginable redemption on this version, it might additionally mark a exceptional comeback for Haller, who was recognized with testicular most cancers in 2022.

Simon Adingra

The Brighton and Hove Albion winger has turn out to be a sensation on the match and is undoubtedly a fan favourite among the many host nation's supporters. Each time the ball reaches Adingra's ft, the extent of expectation and the quantity contained in the seats rises. It was Adingra who scored the ninetieth minute equalizer towards Mali within the semi-final that took the tie to further time.

Frank Kessie

The midfielder signed for Al-Alhi within the Saudi Professional League final yr after being one of many hottest properties in European soccer for a while. The 27-year-old joined Serie A membership Atalanta as an adolescent earlier than being snapped up by Italian giants AC Milan in 2019. Barcelona introduced in Kessie, who has been a driving pressure within the midfield park, in Spain in 2022 earlier than his transfer. to Saudi Arabia.

Type information

Nigeria: WWWWW
Ivory Coast: LWWWW

Prize cash

Champions: $7 million
Runners-up: $4 million

Face to face report:

Matches: 12
Nigeria received: 4
Ivory Coast received: 6
Attracts: 2

Crew information

Nigeria will hope that there isn’t a repeat of the belly criticism that resulted in Osimhen having to journey a day after the remainder of the group for his or her semi-final.

Left-back Zaidu Sanusi missed the semi-final with South Africa with a hamstring damage however will bear a late health check within the run-up to the ultimate after being a relentless earlier than the assembly with Bafana Bafana.

Anticipated beginning eleven for Nigeria: Stanley Nwabali, Semi Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Vivid Osayi-Samuel, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman.

Ivory Coast welcome again the suspended pair of Odilon Kossounou and Oumar Diakire, each of whom have been despatched off within the quarter-final win over Mali. Kossounou was a starter in that sport and is anticipated to return to protection instead of Willy Bolly.

The beginning eleven for the Ivory Coast: There are quite a lot of guys ready to see you all, however I'm undecided if I'll be capable to make it.



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