Nigeria vs Ivory Coast it is for the 2023 AFCON Final
Throughout the tournament, we’ve witnessed thrilling matches, stunning goals, and unforgettable moments, and the final promises to be no different. Will Nigeria secure their fourth tournament victory, or will Ivory Coast claim the title on home turf?
AFCON 2023 Final Preview
As the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations draws to a close, hosts Ivory Coast are gearing up to face Nigeria at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium today.
Join Daily Report NG for an in-depth AFCON 2023 final preview of this epic African showdown.
Progress to the Final
Nigeria’s Road to Final
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have maintained an unbeaten streak throughout the AFCON games, scoring 7 goals and conceding only 2 goals in 6 matches played.
Their journey to the semi-finals saw them triumph over South Africa in a nail-biting penalty shootout, following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Nigeria’s AFCON form: D W W W W W
Ivory Coast’s Road to Final
The Ivorian team has had quite a tumultuous journey. They made a bold move by sacking their head coach during the group stages, narrowly avoiding elimination. However, they rallied in the knockout stages, eliminating defending champions Senegal and overcoming DR Congo in the semi-finals.
Throughout their campaign, the hosts have scored 6 goals but conceded 7 in six matches.
Ivory Coast’s AFCON form: W L L W W W
Nigeria vs Ivory Coast possible Lineup
Nigeria formation (3-4-3)
Goalkeeper: Stanley Nwabali
Defenders: Semi Ajayi, Williams Troost Ekong, Calvin Bassey
Midfielders: Ola Aina, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Zaidu Sanusi
Forwards: Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman
Coach: José Peseiro
Ivory Coast formation (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Yahia Fofana
Defenders: Ghislain Konan, Evan Ndicka, Wily Holy, Wilfried Singo
Midfielders: Seko Fofana, Jean Michael Seri, Frank Kessie
Forwards: Simon Adingra, Nicolas Pepe, Max Gradel
Coach: Emerse Faé
Nigeria vs Ivory Coast Head-to-Head
Nigeria and Ivory Coast are set to face off for the eighth time at the Africa Cup of Nations. So far, Nigeria has secured three wins, while Ivory Coast has clinched victory twice, with two matches ending in draws.
Notably, their encounters have occurred in all three AFCON editions where the Super Eagles emerged as champions. These include a group stage draw in 1980, a thrilling 4-2 victory for Nigeria on penalties after a 2-2 semi-final draw in 1994, and a 2-1 win for Nigeria in the quarter-finals in 2013.
Nigeria vs Ivory Coast Prediction
According to the Opta supercomputer, Nigeria is heavily favored to win the 2023 AFCON final. In 56.2% of the 10,000 pre-match simulations, José Peseiro’s team emerged victorious within 90 minutes, solidifying their status as favorites.
However, Ivory Coast shouldn’t be discounted entirely. The prediction model assigns them a 30.2% chance of defeating their opponents without needing extra time, suggesting that they could still pose a significant challenge.
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