The winter soccer season in Africa concluded with a spectacular finish as Ivory Coast clinched a memorable victory at the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite a rocky start in the group stage that led many to doubt their chances, the hosts elevated their game and ultimately secured their third championship title. This tournament was particularly noteworthy for bettors, as it was sponsored by the leading sports betting platform in the Middle East, 1XBet. The event garnered significant attention from bettors, and now, the focus has shifted to upcoming major events like the European Championships. But what was the key to Ivory Coast’s triumphant third AFCON win?
Ivory Coast Recovers from Slow Start
Hopes were high ahead of the start of the tournament for the host nation, as Ivory Coast were drawn in a tricky-looking group on paper alongside Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria. However, any hopes of winning the tournament were over after losing twice in the opening round, which included a stunning 4-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea. However, the Ivory Coast squeaked through to the next round as one of the best-placed third teams in the group stage, but this would only make their progression to the final even more challenging.
Route To The Final
The Ivory Coast would come up against the defending AFCON champions in the round of 16, but they managed to keep their cool from the penalty spot to land a memorable penalty shootout success. Franck Kessie would be the man for the big occasion throughout the tournament, with the midfielder netting the equalizer with just four minutes remaining on the clock.
Once again, home fans were put through all the emotions in the following round, with the hosts scoring a dramatic winner in extra time against Mali to record a 2-1 success. It was a dramatic evening, with Oumar Diakite scoring the winning goal in the second minute of injury time at the end of extra time.
The Ivory Coast would win their only match in 90 minutes on their way to the final in the semi-final stage, with a 1-0 victory being recorded against DR Congo to book a memorable appearance in the final. Sebastien Haller was the match-winner in the semi-final, scoring with just under half an hour remaining at Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
Memorable Final Success
The Ivory Coast were outsiders heading into the final against Nigeria, with their rivals having landed a victory against the hosts in the tournament’s opening round. Nigeria made the quicker start and went ahead after just 38 minutes. However, the Ivory Coast made a habit of scoring late goals throughout AFCON, meaning that hopes were still high that the host nation could secure a famous victory even with a deficit to overcome in the second period.
Kessie once again showcased his quality in the second half of the final, as the midfielder dragged his nation level just after the hour mark. However, the eventual match-winner would come in the form of Haller, who marked his sensational return to international soccer following recovery from cancer with the winning goal in the final ten minutes. The Ivory Coast would defend excellently in the final ten minutes to hold onto their advantage and secure a third AFCON triumph in their history.
South Africa Takes Third
It was a tournament full of underdog stories, and that was also evident in the third-place playoff, as South Africa defied expectations to finish third. The nation managed to overcome another shock contender in the form of DR Congo, with South Africa landing a memorable success following a dramatic penalty shootout.
It was their best performance at AFCON since finishing third in the 2000 edition. It marked an excellent return to the major tournament after missing out on a spot after failing to qualify in two of the previous three editions.
Conclusion
The Ivory Coast will continue to celebrate its historic honor for the next couple of years, with the tournament’s next edition being staged in the summer of 2025. Morocco will have hosting responsibilities for the tournament’s next edition, marking the first time they have hosted the event since 1988.
The tournament will get underway on July 23, with the best two sides competing in the final on August 21. It could be a crucially important edition of the tournament, as it will take place just 12 months before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
