The stage is set for the AFCON 2024 final as 3 time winners Nigeria tackle hosts Ivory Coast on Sunday. The Super Eagles head to this tie on the back of a hard fought and tension-soaked victory against South Africa. The Eagles had gone ahead courtesy a fine spot kick by Captain Troost-Ekong. They thought they had doubled the lead with Osimhen’s late strike. However the goal was disallowed after a lengthy VAR review with a penalty awarded to South Africa for a foul in the build up to that goal. Hugo Broos’s men levelled from the spot and set the game up for an intriguing extra 30 minutes of play. Unfortunately, Williams could not replicate his Quarter Final penalty-saving heroics for South Africa as Nigeria eventually won 4-2 on penalties with Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho scoring the winning spot kick. Now, history beckons for the Eagles who are gunning for a 4th title and a first one since lifting the trophy back in 2013. In fact, defender Kenneth Omeruo and Ahmed Musa could become the first Nigerian players to lift 2 AFCON trophies having both been in the 2013 winning team.
For Ivory Coast, it has been a fantastic turn around. They were on the verge of crashing out in the early stages following a 1-0 loss to Nigeria and 4-0 thumping by Equatorial Guinea. However, by a stroke of luck, the Ivorians made the knockout phase as one of the best losers, got past Senegal in the last 16, beat Mali in the Quarter Finals before edging past DR Congo 1-0 in the Semis. Now, they are just a game away from winning a third AFCON title having previously won it in 1992 and 2015. This is a re-match between Nigeria and Ivory Coast as both sides already met in the second Group A game with the Super Eagles winning 1-0 courtesy a Victor Osimhen strike. In this Nigeria Vs Ivory Coast AFCON prediction, there’s a lot at stake for both teams as we get to see African football rivalry at its best.
Nigeria Team News
In the build up to the Semi final clash against South Africa, Victor Osimhen picked up an abdominal issue. He later overcame the fitness issue and put up a Sterling performance for his side as they matched on to the AFCON final. We expect him to retain his role here as the African footballer of the year searches for continental glory. Certainly, the stability of Nigeria’s defence has been very helpful in propelling the team’s progress to the final of the tournament. They have only conceded twice throughout the competition, a testament to the solidity brought by Ekong and his pairs as well as Nwabali’s heroics in between the sticks. The Chippa United goalkeeper stepped up again against South Africa with a man of the match performance as he saved two spot kicks to push the Eagles into the finals. Here, we do not expect any changes to the starting line up. As the game progresses, Peseiro might bring in some changes just as he did against South Africa when he brought on Yusuf, Aribo and Moffi as replacements for Iwobi, Onyeka and Osimhen respectively.
Possible Line Up
Nwabali; Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey; Aina, Onyeka, Iwobi, Sanusi; Simon, Lookman, Osimhen
Ivory Coast Team News
Call it luck or anything, but fortune has really smiled on Ivory Coast in this tournament as they have against all odds, matched on and are now on the cusp of winning a first continental title in 8 years.
A Sebastian Haller goal in the 65th minute was all the hosts needed to get through to the final of the tournament and now they must get one over the Super Eagles to wrap up what has been a highly unpredictable competition. We do not expect much changes to the starting line up here as the Ivorians look to avenge their 1-0 Group stage loss to Nigeria and maybe replicate a 1-0 victory in the Semi Final of AFCON 2006 when Didier Drogba scored the only goal that eliminated Nigeria from the competition.
Possible Line Up
Fofana, Singo, Boly, Ndicka, Konan, Kessie, Seri, Fofana, Gradel, Haller, Adingra
Nigeria Vs Ivory Coast AFCON Predictions
Ivory Coast will be gunning for glory right in front of their home fans when the game kicks off on Sunday night. They have had to overcome various hurdles to get here and will be looking to finish the job with loud cheers across the country. For Nigeria, history beckons yet again as they look to level with Ghana on the list of countries with the most AFCON titles. They have also had to overcome the indomitable Lions of Cameroon, the Antelopes of Angola and Bafana Bafana to get to this stage of the competition. Now, they are just 90 minutes (maybe extra time and penalties) away from adding another title to their cabinet. Certainly, this will be no easy task and we expect a keenly contested tie from start to finish.
Nigeria Vs Ivory Coast Betting tip: Most Scoring Half – 2nd
We are anticipating a cagey affair in the opening half with the second half producing the most goals than the first.
