Highlights: Ivory Coast is only one victory away from being crowned African champions for the third time in its history, after its coronations in 1992 and 2015. A look back at its stunning journey during this CAN 2024, where she came close to elimination several times but always came through. The Elephants are now closer than ever to another continental title, a prospect that was practically dead and buried not so long ago. While waiting to see whether or not they are capable of meeting their ultimate challenge against Victor Osimhen's Super Eagles, we look at their atypical and exceptional journey.

Ivory Coast is only one victory away from being crowned African champions for the third time in its history, after its coronations in 1992 and 2015. A look back at its stunning journey during…

CAN 2024: before Nigeria-Ivory Coast, return to the crazy journey of the Elephants

Ivory Coast is only one victory away from being crowned African champions for the third time in its history, after its coronations in 1992 and 2015. A look back at its stunning journey during this CAN 2024, where she came close to elimination several times but always came through.

Ivorian players celebrate their qualification for the final of the African Cup of Nations after their victory against the DRC in Abidjan, February 7, 2024. © AFP / FRANCK FIFE

By: Valentin Berg Follow

Will the Elephants win the craziest coronation in the history of the

African Cup of Nations

? They are now closer than ever to another continental title, a prospect that was practically dead and buried not so long ago. While waiting to see whether or not they are capable of meeting their ultimate challenge against Victor Osimhen's Super Eagles, we look back at their atypical and exceptional journey in the competition.

Read alsoCalendar, results and rankings of CAN 2024 matches

A catastrophic group stage

Everything started well for Côte d'Ivoire, with its

inaugural victory without difficulty against Guinea-Bissau (2-0)

, on January 13. The Ivorians then ideally began their CAN, organized at home in front of their public, which logically designated them as one of the big favorites for the final title. But the rest of the story took a completely different turn.

From their second group match, things got worse against Nigeria, an already much tougher opponent to face in group A, where first place was to be played out between the Ivorians and the Nigerians. But the hosts of the competition suffered their first setback at home by

losing to the

Super Eagles (1-0)

, while at the same time

Equatorial Guinea took the lead of the group and shook up the hierarchy to everyone's surprise.

A dynamic which was subsequently confirmed: during the last match, Equatorial Guinea humiliated

Côte d'Ivoire in a one-sided encounter (4-0)

at the Alassane Ouattara stadium, placing the Ivorians on the verge of a premature elimination. Penultimate in its group, Côte d'Ivoire no longer had its destiny in hand and had to be among the best third-placed teams to see the rest of the competition.

At this moment, the stars decided to align for the Elephants: the draw conceded by Ghana,

recovered by two goals by Mozambique in added time (2-2)

then the

narrow victory of Morocco against Zambia (1-0)

two days later qualified the Ivorians at the last minute for the round of 16. Miraculés, a new competition began for Jean-Louis Gasset's men. But not for the latter,

sacked immediately and replaced by former

Ivorian international Emerse Faé

Read alsoCAN 2024: Ivory Coast thanks its Moroccan savior after its miraculous qualification

Haller bided his time

What followed was going to be even more stunning for Ivory Coast. Barely recovered from their emotions, the Elephants advanced against Senegal, the reigning African champion, in a shock in the eighth where no one gave much of their skin. Barely three minutes after kick-off, the Lions opened the scoring thanks to Habib Diallo. Dominated and without a solution, the Ivorians headed straight for the exit before Édouard Mendy conceded a penalty on a superb pass from Sébastien Haller, injured since the start of the tournament and who was playing his first minutes on the pitch. The rest is still on everyone's minds: Franck Kessié came to equalize, sending the two teams into overtime then to penalties where

the Ivorians defeated the Senegalese (1-1, 5-4 TAB)

Against Mali in the quarter-final, the scenario was even more incredible: first there was this penalty stopped by Yahia Fofana (17th) then the exclusion of Odilon Kossounou (43rd), leaving his teammates outnumbered during the rest of the meeting. After Nene Dorgeles opened the score (70th), Simon Adingra turned into a savior by equalizing for the Elephants in the final moments (90th). In a match where he had a lot of influence, Haller then found the crossbar with his head in extra time before the shot from Seko Fofana, surely the most impactful player on the Ivorian side before Haller's return, was deflected by a backheel from Diakité in the last second of added time (120th+1).

The Ivorians advanced to the semi-final, once again miraculous

In the last four, this time no need for miracles. The Elephants simply relied on their leader Sébastien Haller, again decisive with an unacademic volley which allowed the Ivory Coast to dismiss

the DRC (1-0)

and reach the final of its Cup of African nations.

Does a stunning scenario still await the Elephants during this final shock against Nigeria on February 11? Emerse Faé in any case has his own idea: “

I remember that when I was a player, I won the U17 World Cup

(with the French team, editor’s note)

by losing the first match against Nigeria then beating them in the final. Maybe it’s a sign of destiny

.”

The Elephants are another step closer. 🥳🐘🇨🇮#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | @pumafootball pic.twitter.com/3uZBNnhdtO

CAN 2024: before Nigeria-Ivory Coast, return to the crazy journey of the Elephants

CAN 2024: before Nigeria-Ivory Coast, return to the crazy journey of the Elephants

A catastrophic group stage

Haller bided his time

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