AFCON Final 2024: Ivory Coast Vs Nigeria Preview, Team News and Prediction

February 11, 2024
Ankit Chakraborty
Sports
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The Africa Cup of Nations showdown featuring Nigeria and Ivory Coast on Sunday at Alassane Ouattara Stadium will be a replay of their Group A meeting.

The Africa Cup of Nations showdown featuring Nigeria and Ivory Coast on Sunday at Alassane Ouattara Stadium will be a replay of their Group A meeting. Much has changed since the Super Eagles upset the Elephants earlier in the competition, with the hosts surmounting obstacles when hope seemed gone, and they now appear to have momentum heading into the final in Abidjan.

Although Ivory Coast fans believed they could reach the final before AFCON 2023 began, the Super Eagles went from being outsiders for the crown to being the highest-ranked nation left in the tournament after group-stage exits to Algeria and Tunisia. As well as early knockouts to Egypt, Morocco, and defending champions Senegal. Although the three-time winners’ exceptional skill, worries about Jose Peseiro’s team fueled doubts about this squad, whose performances and results leading up to the finals left much to be desired.

However, the West African team has shown a different side of themselves at the tournament, creating chances but failing to win against Equatorial Guinea, changing their strategy to defeat Ivory Coast, and demonstrating defensive savvy throughout their journey in the knockout rounds to bring them within touching distance of a fourth title. While much has been made of Stanley Nwabali’s effect between the posts following his penalty-saving heroics against South Africa, the Chippa United goalkeeper’s confidence has rippled throughout a previously jittery backline.

After getting firsthand experience with the Napoli striker, Ivory Coast should be better prepared to face the Nigerian superstar, with Peseiro’s side surprising the Elephants with a transition to a back three — which morphed into a five-player backline — when they played on January 18. The ousted Jean-Louis Gasset was unable to change the game, and the host team resorted to shooting from adverse angles when they were unable to unpick Nigeria’s backline.

After losing the previous two meetings with Nigeria at AFCON 2013, which the Super Eagles won, and earlier in the ongoing finals, the Elephants hope to end their two-game Cup of Nations losing streak in this West African rivalry and become the 12th hosts, and first since Egypt in 2006, to win the title on home soil.

Nigeria Team News

A number Nigerians are at a physical disadvantage in comparison to the hosts, as evidenced by Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Osimhen, and Frank Onyeka playing over 500 minutes each, while the quintet of Calvin Bassey, William Troost-Ekong, Lookman, Alex Iwobi, and Moses Simon has accumulated over 400 minutes.

Osimhen, who overcame intestinal pain to play in the semi-final, should be flanked by Lookman and Simon up front. In the semis, Peseiro gave Terem Moffi and Kelechi Iheanacho their long-awaited game time. The pair showed composure in the shootout, with the Leicester City star scoring the winning penalty.

After missing the semi-finals, Zaidu Sanusi may play wing-back, leaving Bright Osayi-Samuel on the right and Aina on the opposite flank.

Ivory Coast Team News

Fae’s squad might have played extra time twice before the final, but they are unquestionably the fresher side, with only Evan Ndicka 600 minutes, Ghislain Konan (564), Seko Fofana (530), and Franck Kessie (527) amassing worrying miles. The following pair, Ibrahim Sangare and Wilfried Singo have played much fewer minutes than their opponents, with the Nottingham Forest midfielder not started since the round of 16, and Singo not assured a starting berth at right-back.

Ivory Coast players celebrating after their goal in the semi-final — Image Source: AFCON Website

Speaking about right-backs, Fae’s selection for Sunday is doubtful because to Serge Aurier’s return from suspension after missing Wednesday’s semi-final triumph for accumulating yellow cards. Oumar Diakite, who won the match against Mali, returns from suspension, although he may only play on the bench, with Haller and Adingra likely to start and Nicolas Pepe anticipated to vie with Max Gradel for a spot in the XI.

Head-To-Head

The two Nations have faced each other 8 times with four wins a piece. With the last fixture being a group stage match in which Nigeria defeated the host’s 0-1.