As with each edition of the African Cup of Nations, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded several titles on Sunday February 11 to key players in the success of this CAN 2024.
These awards were announced at the end of the final between Ivory Coast and Nigeria, a match won by the Elephants (2-1) at the end of which the country won its third coronation on the African continent.
Read also: Ivory Coast wins its CAN by overthrowing Nigeria in the final
Best player: William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)
The captain of the Super Eagles would undoubtedly have preferred to lift the African Cup of Nations trophy, but his goal scored in the final against Ivory Coast was ultimately not enough. The fact remains: William Troost-Ekong was the boss of Nigeria's - almost airtight - defense during CAN 2024.
The icing on the cake was that William Troost-Ekong broke a record on Sunday by becoming the first defender to score five goals in the CAN finals, including three this year. Historical.
🌟 William Ekong 🌟
Ladies & gentlemen, we present to you the TotalEnergies 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! 🇳🇬
Incredible run with his nation concludes with the silver medal! 🥈 #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/c6qyxP6Em1
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
Read alsoCAN 2024: Troost-Ekong, pillar of Nigeria's defense engaged on all grounds
Best young person: Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast)
At 22 years old, Simon Adingra saw his rating skyrocket during the competition. Selected by the former Ivory Coast coach, Jean-Louis Gasset, in place of the experienced Wilfried Zaha, the young winger initially missed several matches in the first round due to injury.
But the new Ivorian coach, Emerse Faé, placed his trust in him and the young talent returned it: scorer in the quarter-finals against Mali, Simon Adingra was twirling against DR Congo in the semi-final, then against in Nigeria in the final. And against the Super Eagles, he was sparkling: two assists, six key passes and five successful dribbles out of nine attempted. Logically elected man of the match, he still has his whole future ahead of him.
Watch out for Simon Adingra, Africa! 💎
Ivory Coast's sensational talent is the Best Young Player of #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023! 👏🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/nh8FqPuSvX
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
Top scorer: Emilio Nsue Lopez (Equatorial Guinea)
With 5 goals scored during CAN 2024, Equatorial Guinea striker Emilio Nsue Lopez was elected top scorer of the competition. Aged 34, the man who plays in the 3rd Spanish division has been at the top of the rankings for top scorers since the group stages after his hat-trick against Guinea-Bissau (4-2) then his double against Ivory Coast (4- 0).
The Angolan Gelson Dala takes the second step of the podium with four goals scored - including a double scored against Namibia (3-0) in the round of 16. The Egyptian Mostafa Mohamed won the bronze medal in the scorers' ranking with four goals scored during the competition.
🇬🇶 Emilio Nsue is officially the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 Puma Golden Boot winner! ⚽
5️⃣ goals in 4️⃣ games for the Equatorial Guinea captain! @pumafootball pic.twitter.com/Wsu77Yp8Nd
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
Also read: Who can still dethrone Emilio Nsué, still top scorer in the CAN?
Best trainer: Emerse Faé
He was said to be on a mission impossible when he arrived on the Ivory Coast bench in the middle of the competition. However, Emerse Faé defied the predictions and led his team to the final victory against Nigeria. The Elephants coach had taken up his position as interim manager in a difficult context after the humiliation against Equatorial Guinea.
He was able to revive the state of mind of Ivorian players who came close to elimination, before making tactical choices and profitable changes during the knockout matches. With the result that we know, a third African Cup for Ivory Coast.
The man who won it all! 🏆
The #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 Best Coach award goes to Côte d'Ivoire's leader Emerse Faé 🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/WmjiEeHRdI
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
Also read Who is Emerse Faé, “the man on the ground” on an impossible mission for Ivory Coast?
Best goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
He perfectly embodies the expression "last bastion" used to designate football goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams shone with his solidity in the South Africa cage during CAN 2024. Bafana Bafana owe him several decisive interventions, particularly during the knockout matches.
And if there were only one memorable moment, it would undoubtedly be his penalty shootout against Cape Verde in the quarter-finals. Ronwen Williams then single-handedly disgusted the Blue Sharks by rejecting four of their shots out of five attempted.
A savior for South Africa when needed 🧤
Ronwen Williams deservedly wins Ecobank Best Goalkeeper with a remarkable presence in #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 🇿🇦@GroupEcobank pic.twitter.com/UAqmvRjZ5V
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
Fair Play Prize: South Africa
In addition to their goalkeeper, Bafana Bafana were also honored by CAF for their sense of fair play during the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. The South African collective is distinguished by this trophy, and also, in part, the Pretoria club Mamelodi Sundowns - in which eight footballers play out of South Africa's starting eleven.
South Africa 🇿🇦
Bafana Bafana win the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 Air Côte d'Ivoire Fair Play Team award! 👏@AirCI_Officiel pic.twitter.com/QqmheHnDJQ
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
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