In a CAN 2024 stamped with “surprises”, the Nigeria – Ivory Coast final still has a taste of rediscovered normality. Exit the outsiders from South Africa and DR Congo that no one saw coming... The trophy will be played between two announced favorites and heavyweights of the continent.
Live: Nigeria - Ivory Coast: follow the CAN 2024 final
Nigeria enters the eighth final in its history as a specialist, with three victories. But the last one was more than 10 years ago (2013). Ivory Coast, for its part, has the home advantage in this CAN that it is organizing, and can now count on the support of an entire country, after all the strong emotions it has caused to the supporters.
Read alsoNigeria - Ivory Coast: performances and journey of the CAN finalists
Almost eliminated after the humiliation against Equatorial Guinea (4-0), the Ivorians were drafted among the best thirds. Under the leadership of Emerse Faé, who replaced Jean-Louis Gasset, the Elephants overthrew Senegal (1-1, 5 tab to 4) and Mali (2-1 ap) by scoring each time in the final moments . In the half, they mastered their subject to beat DR Congo (1-0), with a goal from Sébastien Haller, returning from injury.
Bring the Cup home or keep it?
But no one has won the African Cup at home since Egypt in 2006, against the Elephants of Emerse Faé, then player (0-0, 4-2 tab). The one who is now coach is aware of it, but he believes in it: “We have a great opportunity to keep the Cup at home. It is very difficult to win the CAN at home. We are 90 minutes away from this opportunity. "
Nigeria won its first star at home in 1980, but cried in Lagos in 2000 against Cameroon (2-2, 4-3 tab). This time, the Super Eagles got rid of their nemesis in the round of 16.
José Peseiro, the Nigeria coach, is not too worried about a hostile atmosphere in the Ébimpé stadium: "It will be a final in a great atmosphere. The stadium will be full. Both teams want to win. We are happy for getting here. So far the boys are doing a fantastic job but we want to win."
“In 14 matches, we have only lost one. We just want to win the Cup. A final in Africa is very special,” adds the coach.
“We know who we are dealing with”
And among the matches won by Nigeria during this CAN, there is one which had to be analyzed from all angles. The second match of the group stage, against…. the Ivory Coast. A very intense match, a game with rapid transitions, where Victor Osimhen stood out, causing a penalty, converted by captain Ekong, which gave victory to the Super Eagles (1-0).
“The fact that Nigeria beat us is good. We already know who we are dealing with,” warns Faé. "The main lesson is that you have to expect everything. We had prepared for it based on their previous matches in 4-2 4 and finally they played in 5-4-1. That had us disturbed a lot. We have to focus on what we want to put in place and be ready to react to the tactical system in front of us."
And to announce his tactics: “We will concentrate on starting the match well then be patient and wear them down.” As in their previous matches of this CAN, often won in the last moments.
For his part, Peseiro has modest success: "We are not favorites. It's 50/50." With a word for the work of his Ivorian counterpart: “I want to congratulate Emerse Faé who took the team in hand and took it this far.”
“A team game”
For this final, the stars of each team will be present. Emerse Faé is delighted with the return of “Haller and Adingra, two players who bring a lot” and whom he even describes as “weapons of mass destruction”. Despite everything, he explains the rebirth of his team by "the cohesion of the group": "I didn't invent anything. The important thing is the group. Everyone feels important."
It's a bit of the same story with the Super Eagles, where Victor Osimhen attracts the spotlight, rightly so. “Osimhen fought in all the matches. He did not behave like a star, he was an attacker, a defender, he was in all positions,” praises his coach. But Peseiro above all highlights the strength of the collective: “A match is a team game, one person cannot do everything. He knows it, we know it and that allows us to create a team spirit” .
This CAN final, as Sébastien Haller describes it so well: “It’s a goal that is bigger than each of us.”
All the comments were collected by our special correspondent Romain Houeix at a press conference
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