ReutersHaller shoots Ivory Coast to the African title
NOS Voetbal•gisteren, 23:06
Ivory Coast has won the Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan. The home country beat Nigeria 2-1 in the final. Sebastién Haller was the match winner shortly before the end and thus gave the Ivorians the third African title in history.
Jean-Louis Gasset would not have expected Ivory Coast to win the title. The national coach was fired after the mediocre group stage. Yet Ivory Coast qualified for the next round as one of the best numbers three. Gasset’s successor became assistant Emerse Faé, who now claims the title in his own country.
Comfort-Ekong important
The first chance came after seven minutes. Haller’s effort, from a cross by Simon Adingra, slid just in front of the post. Nigeria then also threatened a few times, but the biggest chance was for Adingra after 34 minutes. He advanced on the left, but his effort was saved by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili of Nigeria.
The first really big chance for Nigeria immediately resulted in a goal. Captain William Troost-Ekong, born in Haarlemmer and former player of FC Groningen and FC Dordrecht, headed the ball beautifully behind the Ivorian goalkeeper Yahia Fofana after 38 minutes.
ReutersTroost-Ekong beautifully heads the ball into the top corner
Shortly after halftime, Ivory Coast threatened through Max Gradel, but because the ball went through Calvin Bassey’s legs, goalkeeper Nwabili was able to easily collect it. After an hour of play, Ivory Coast was dangerous again. Adingra chipped the ball across, but Franck Kessié’s header lacked power.
Not much later, in the 62nd minute, Kessié still scores. He headed a corner impeccably at the far post from a corner by star Adingra: 1-1.
ReutersKessié celebrates his equalizer
In the 74th minute, Haller tried spectacularly, but his bicycle kick went quite wide of the goal. Yet Haller still became the golden boy.
The former FC Utrecht and Ajax striker scored by running well to the first post. It was again Adingra who was responsible for the assist, Haller tapped in with a nimble movement.
Ibrahim Sangaré, former PSV midfielder, came on for Ivory Coast in the second half. He was allowed to celebrate with the players on the field, while the audience in the stands went crazy with joy.