AFCON 2023 : Finalists Known

Out of the 24 teams that qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, only two are left to vie for the coveted trophy. They include hosts Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria, that all booked their tickets to the final after their successful semi-finals matches played yesterday February 7, 2024. They are going to play the final of this competition on February 11, 2024, but the underlining bigger news is how these teams got here. To say the least, when one things the ongoing AFCON has already produced a lot of electricity and upsets, it only gets better.
Nigeria picked the first spot in the final after beating South Africa 4-2 after post-match-penalty shootouts at Stade de la Paix in Bouake. It was indeed a highly contested fight full of extra-ordinary scenes and drama. The decision to disallow Osimhen’s goal and give a penalty in favour of the South Africans was the height of the drama. When the encounter got to post-match penalty shootouts after a 1-1 stalemate, goalkeeper Williams Ronwen could not repeat the heroic performance he did against Cape Verde where he saved four penalties. It was rather Nigeria’s keeper, Stanley Nwabali who carried the day with his several saves. Goalkeepers are indeed stealing the show in this AFCON by playing an indispensable role for their respective teams. Nigeria last progressed to the final when they won the trophy in 2013 and now have the golden opportunity to win their fourth title when they meet Côte d’Ivoire this Sunday.
Côte d’Ivoire, a team that barely resurrected to qualify for the knockout...