The Manchester United winger put the Elephants ahead in the 20th minute when he bustled past a couple of defenders and sent a dinked finish past goalkeeper Herve Koffi from close range.

Twelve minutes later Amad laid on the second for Yan Diomande, who sent a curling finish past the wrongfooted Koffi from just inside the area.

Dango Ouattara came close to pulling one back for the Stallions before the break, but his right-footed effort from a narrow angle hit the base of the left-hand upright and rebounded into the arms of Ivorian keeper Yahia Fofana.

Fofana then made a smart reaction save with his right boot to once again deny Brentford forward Ouattara just after the hour mark, while Amad was denied his second by a similarly fine stop by Koffi.

In the end it was teenager Bazoumana Toure who grabbed the third late on with a fine solo goal, racing forward from midway inside his own half and beating Koffi inside the left-hand upright with a clinical finish.

Emerse Fae’s men will now face record seven-time champions Egypt, who beat Benin 3-1 after extra time on Monday, in a heavyweight last-eight clash in Agadir on Saturday (19:00 GMT).

The Elephants trailed 2-0 by the 21st minute, but Jean-Philippe Krasso pulled one back just before the break by tapping in Wilfried Zaha’s square ball.

The Ivorians rarely threatened in the second half until Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand headed in a corner to equalise with six minutes remaining and set up a frantic finale.

Bazoumana Toure then completed the turnaround in the first of five added minutes, with the wideman’s diving header from Christopher Operi’s left-wing cross sparking wild celebrations.

Yan Diomande thought he had made it 4-2 from a late counter-attack, but the goal was ruled out for offside earlier in the move after a check by the video assistant referee (VAR).

With the Elephants drawing until late on, Cameroon had been set to top the group by two points courtesy of their 2-1 win over Mozambique.

Ivory Coast will now face Burkina Faso in the last 16 in Marrakesh on Tuesday, 6 January (19:00 GMT), with the victory sparing them a more challenging route to the final.

Hosts Ivory Coast were sensationally beaten 4-0 by minnows Equatorial Guinea in their last group game at the 2023 edition in the biggest upset in tournament history, finishing third in their group.

Gasset was dismissed after the shock defeat but the Ivorians earned a reprieve as one of the best third placed finishers to qualify for the knockout rounds and eventually won the title under Gasset’s assistant Emerse Fae.

One month after returning to France, Gasset was appointed coach at Olympique de Marseille but stayed for only four months.

He went back to Montpellier last season but when they were headed for relegation, he was sacked in April.

Gasset spent most of his playing career at Montpellier, where his father had been one of the club founders.

The cause of death was not given.

The Elephants, aiming to become the first defending champions since Egypt in 2010 to retain the title, squandered a succession of first-half chances against opponents ranked 60 places below them at 102nd in Fifa’s rankings.

Amad provided relief for Emerse Fae’s side four minutes after the restart, capitalising on static defending to meet Franck Kessie’s knockdown with a cool low finish that arrowed between Sunderland defender Reinildo’s legs on its way in.

Mozambique goalkeeper Ernan was busy before the break, acrobatically tipping Yan Diomande’s miscued shot from Guela Doue’s delivery over the crossbar and denying Kessie when the midfielder sent a close-range header straight at him.

Ghislain Konan should have opened the scoring when Amad tricked his way inside the box and teed the left-back up in space in front of goal, only to flash a shot comfortably wide.

Ivory Coast came close to a second with added time looming, Kessie breaking clear but dithering before substitute Vakoun Bayo collected the loose ball and was denied by Ernan and midfielder Guima’s athletic clearance off the line.

Both sides play the second of their three group stage games on Sunday, when Mozambique meet Gabon in Agadir (12:30 GMT) and Ivory Coast meet five-time champions Cameroon in Marrakech (20:00).

The Elephants return to the global stage for the first time since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, having missed the last two editions. Their qualification campaign was dominant—eight wins, two draws, 25 goals scored and none conceded.

Speaking to FIFA, Faé stressed that his team is not heading to the World Cup just to participate.

“We aren’t going to the World Cup for a holiday,” he said. “We’re thrilled to have qualified, but that wasn’t the end goal. We want to prove that Côte d’Ivoire are capable of making history on the biggest stage.”

He pointed to Morocco’s remarkable semi-final finish at Qatar 2022 as a model the Elephants are aiming to surpass.

“We’re lucky enough to have Morocco’s example to follow, as they did exceptionally well last time out. What they achieved laid down a marker for Africa, and we’ve got to take our cue from it and dream big,” Faé added. “I don’t just mean saying, ‘We’d like to do what Morocco did.’ I mean, ‘We’re going to emulate what Morocco accomplished.’”

Côte d’Ivoire will discover their group-stage opponents at the World Cup draw on Friday, December 5.

Before then, the African champions will shift focus to defending their continental title at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, scheduled for December and January.

Speaking to CAF Media during the 2025 awards ceremony at Rabat’s Mohamed VI Polytechnic University on Wednesday, Gyan expressed disappointment over Ghana’s absence from the tournament.

“I think we’ve got a lot of giants who are going there. Ghana is out, which we are very disappointed, but it is okay — we have qualified for the World Cup,” he said.

“Nigeria did well — they were close the last two years. Ivory Coast did well, so we have a lot of teams… Morocco is also a strong contender who are also doing well.

“I will say these three countries that I have mentioned — Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Morocco — are favourites,” he added.

The 35th edition of AFCON is scheduled to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Ouattara, 83, won 89.8% of the vote, the electoral commission said on Monday, and businessman Jeal-Louis Billon came a distant second with only 3.09%.

The landslide victory is not a huge surprise, as after being banned from the presidential race, former President Laurent Gbagbo and Credit Suisse ex-CEO Tidjane Thiam had urged their supporters to boycott the vote.

Voter turnout reached just 50.1%, according to the electoral commission.

Gbagbo’s ex-wife, Simone Gbagbo, who was allowed to contest the election, got 2.42% of the vote.

Monday’s results are provisional, and the outcome will be announced by the Constitutional Council after it rules on any election petitions.

On Sunday, the opposition group made up of Gbagbo and Thiam’s parties denounced the election as a “civilian coup d’etat,” saying they would not recognise Ouattara as a validly elected leader.

Ouattara first assumed the presidency in 2011, following Laurent Gbagbo’s arrest after his refusal to accept defeat in the 2010 election.

Ouattara was originally restricted to serving two terms, but a 2016 constitutional overhaul allowed him to seek re-election in 2020, in a vote that was boycotted by the opposition.

Source: BBC

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After a shaky start to the tournament, Ghana’s U-17 side bounced back impressively, sealing a place in the final with a hard-fought victory over Nigeria in the semifinals.

However, the Black Starlets were denied the title by host nation Ivory Coast, losing 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw in regulation time.

Speaking after the match, the former Asante Kotoko boss expressed pride in his team’s progress and attitude throughout the competition.

“These boys have shown great character and determination,” Ogum said after the game.

“To reach the final and qualify for the AFCON after such a long time is a step in the right direction.

“We will continue to build and prepare them well for the challenge in Morocco,” he added.

Despite the heartbreak in the final, Ghana’s campaign ended on a positive note as they secured qualification for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted in Morocco.

Ghana endured a mixed campaign in the group stages, drawing 1-1 with Togo before suffering a heavy 3-0 loss to the Ivorians.

The team bounced back with a 3-1 win over Niger to progress, before overcoming rivals Nigeria in the semi-finals to book a place in Friday night’s decider at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 GMT.

Addressing the media ahead of the final, Ogum underlined the determination within his squad.

“We’ve played them, we’ve seen them play, and they’ve also seen us play, he said in the pre-match, as he looked forward to the rematch against the host country.

“They defeated us, and it’s the second time to play them, and I think it’s enough motivation for us to come in strongly and make sure what happened in the group stage does not happen again.”

Both teams have already secured qualification for next year’s U-17 Africa Cup of Nations by reaching the final. Friday’s clash will be the third meeting between the two nations in the last three years.

Ghana edged Ivory Coast to win bronze in 2022 and also recorded a commanding 5-1 victory over the Young Elephants at the 2024 edition of the WAFU Championship.

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Ghana booked their spot in the final after an impressive 2-0 victory over long-time rivals Nigeria in the semi-final.

First-half strikes from Michael Awuli and Robinho Yao Gavi sealed the win, lifting the confidence of the Starlets as they chase regional glory and continental recognition.

Ivory Coast, meanwhile, earned their place in the decider with a narrow 2-1 win against Burkina Faso.

The Elephants hold a psychological edge heading into the clash, having handed Ghana a heavy 3-0 defeat during the group stage.

But the Starlets have bounced back strongly since that setback, overcoming Niger 3-1 before dispatching Nigeria with authority. Head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum insists his team will approach the final with renewed energy and a new tactical plan.

“It will be a different Ghana; our structure will be different, our mentality and our character will also be different. They defeated us in the group stage,” he said after the win over Nigeria.

“Fortunately, we have been able to play them so we know what to do, go back and prepare ourselves in terms of our mentality and character and how we need to stay focused on the field.

“Tactically, we also have to re-strategise to make sure that we meet them boot for boot.”

Regardless of today’s outcome, both Ghana and Ivory Coast have already secured qualification to the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, having claimed the two available slots from the WAFU Zone B Championship.

The tournament, being staged in Ivory Coast, also serves as a qualifier for the next U17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana’s Black Starlets, who drew 1-1 with Togo in their opening fixture, went into the match needing a win to strengthen their chances of progressing.

But the young Elephants proved too strong, combining pace and precision to outclass their visitors.

The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Robinho Gavi Yao broke through Ghana’s defence and finished calmly to give the hosts the lead.

The Starlets pushed for an equaliser but were unable to find a way past a resolute Ivorian backline before the break.

After the interval, the home side tightened their grip on the contest, adding two more goals to complete an emphatic win at Stade Konan Banny.

The result leaves Ivory Coast top of Group A with six points from two matches.

For Ghana, the defeat is a major setback. The Black Starlets must now beat Niger in their final group game to keep alive any hopes of reaching the knockout stage.

Ghana opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Togo in Yamoussoukro, a result that left Ogum frustrated with his players’ inability to convert numerous scoring opportunities.

“Creating the chance is not the problem. It’s about conversion, and because of that, we had a full session on goal scoring in our last training session,” he said ahead of the game.

The former Asante Kotoko manager revealed that the technical team has been replicating in-game scenarios during training to enhance the players’ composure and precision in front of goal.

“Some of the situations that happened in the game were recreated, and we worked on the finishing in our last training session. The conversion was good at training, and I’m sure our conversion against Ivory Coast will be better,” Dr. Ogum added.

The Black Starlets face the host nation today at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 GMT.

Ghana began their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Togo and will now face the host nation at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.

Ofori, who featured in the opening game, expressed confidence in Ghana’s chances during Monday’s pre-match press conference.

“We’re fully prepared for Ivory Coast,” he said.

“We know what is at stake, and we’ve worked hard in training to put ourselves in a good position to win. All we will need to do is to be tactically disciplined, and the job against Ivory Coast will be easier,” he added.

Ivory Coast currently tops Group A after defeating Niger 2-0 in their opening fixture. A victory for Ghana would see them leapfrog the Ivorians ahead of their final group game on Friday, September 26.

Kick-off is scheduled for 18:00 GMT.

Led by head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum, the team landed in Yamoussoukro on Tuesday, September 16, to begin final preparations for the tournament.

The Black Starlets have been drawn into Group A alongside hosts Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, and Togo. The competition kicks off on September 20 and runs until October 3, with all matches taking place at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro.

Ghana will open their campaign against Togo on Saturday, September 20, at 18:00 GMT, face Côte d’Ivoire three days later, and conclude the group stage against Niger on Friday, September 26, at 15:00 GMT.

Apart from competing for regional honours, the tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. Top-performing teams will earn spots at the continental championship.

As two-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions, the Black Starlets are targeting not only qualification but also a return to prominence in youth football.

Desmond Ofei’s side made a dream start to the match, with forward Benjamin Tsivanyo opening the scoring just two minutes after kickoff.

However, the Ivorians quickly responded with an equaliser before halftime, setting up a tense second half.

Despite dominating key phases of the game, particularly in aerial contests and attacking transitions, Ghana failed to convert their chances.

Ivory Coast capitalised instead, with midfielder Ali Kone firing home a spectacular long-range strike in the 69th minute to seal victory.

The result ends Ghana’s hopes of clinching the regional title on home soil.

Ivory Coast will now face Nigeria in the final, scheduled to take place at the University of Ghana Stadium.

Ghana, led by head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren, went into the match aiming to cap off their preparations on a positive note, having drawn 3-3 in the first encounter last week. However, a second-half strike from Habibou Ouedraogo dashed those hopes.

The Queens started strongly, dictating play in the early stages, but the Ivorians gradually gained control and began to threaten with each forward surge.

Goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan delivered a solid performance, making several key saves to keep Ghana in the game.

Despite her efforts, Ouedraogo broke the deadlock in the 56th minute, scoring Côte d’Ivoire’s fourth goal across the two matches.

Ghana pushed for an equalizer but struggled to penetrate the Ivorian defense, ultimately falling short.

The result means the Black Queens have now managed just one win in their last five matches under Bjorkegren, scoring four goals while conceding six.

Tuesday’s match formed part of the team’s ongoing preparations for the rescheduled 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, set to take place in Morocco next month.

Ghana dominated possession from the outset but initially struggled to break down the Ivorian defence.

Forward Doris Boaduwaa came close to breaking the deadlock early in the game, but her effort was expertly saved by the home side’s goalkeeper.

The breakthrough eventually came for the Queens, who capitalized on their momentum.

Goals from Sherifatu Sumaila and Chantelle, along with an own goal stemming from a defensive blunder, handed Ghana a commanding 3-0 lead.

However, the hosts mounted an impressive second-half comeback, punishing defensive errors by the Queens to claw their way back and level the game at 3-3.

Despite letting the lead slip, Ghana head coach Kim Lars Björkegren viewed the match as a vital learning experience ahead of the return leg on Tuesday.

The two-match series forms part of the Black Queens’ preparations for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), set to take place in Morocco later this year.

Ghana has been drawn into Group C, where they will face Mali, South Africa, and Tanzania.

The squad arrived in Côte d’Ivoire earlier this week, continuing their build-up toward the upcoming 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

Following the session, head coach Kim Lars Björkegren expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, highlighting their energy and dedication.

“It was a solid workout, and I was impressed by the intensity and commitment the players showed,” said Björkegren. “Considering we just arrived yesterday, this was a great start.”

The Black Queens are set to take on Côte d’Ivoire on Friday, May 30, at 19:00 GMT. A second friendly fixture between the two sides is slated for Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

These matches serve as crucial preparation for Ghana as they aim to make a strong impression at the WAFCON later this year.

The shocking decision was made public by the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) by the Executive Secretary on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as per widespread reports in the country.

The Ivorian government, through a letter to the FIF, as sighted by AfricaSoccer.com, indicated the impossibility of hosting the 24th edition of the tournament.

The withdrawal leaves CAF in a rush to identify a new host weeks before the tournament.

President Yacine Idriss Diallo, who is also FIF and chairman of the COCAN U-20 organizing committee, was sorry about the incident.

He thanked individuals who worked and dedicated their time to preparations for the tournament, promising stakeholders that he would keep them informed about CAF’s next move.

The motives behind Ivory Coast’s withdrawal are unknown, though rumors point towards logistical challenges and finances.

With the dust yet to settle, CAF will have to quickly find a new host to ensure the tournament goes ahead on schedule.

The sudden turn of events is symptomatic of the pitfalls of hosting big sporting tournaments and the gulf between desire and reality.

Ghana had a rocky start to the tournament, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Senegal in their opening group match.

However, the Black Stars bounced back with a 1-0 victory over Algeria and a 2-1 win against South Africa to secure a spot in the knockout stage.

In the quarterfinals, they cruised past Guinea with a 3-0 win before defeating host nation Equatorial Guinea by the same score line to set up a showdown with Ivory Coast in the final.

After a goalless draw in regulation time, Ghana took the advantage in the penalty shootout when the Ivorians missed their first two attempts.

But the tide turned as Afriyie Acquah, Frank Acheampong, and goalkeeper Razak Brimah failed to convert their kicks, allowing Ivory Coast to stage a comeback and eventually win 9-8 in the dramatic shootout.

Reflecting on the painful defeat, Agyemang-Badu told Sporty FM, “We were totally dead after the AFCON 2015 final.

“I’ve never seen a team lose a penalty shootout after leading 2-0. I still can’t understand what happened,” the U-20 FIFA World Cup winner added.

Since that heartbreak, the Black Stars have struggled on the continental stage. After consecutive group-stage eliminations in recent tournaments, Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON, set to take place in Morocco later this year.

The Ivorian winger was hurt as United prepared for their clash on Sunday, and the 22-year-old is now out while The Red Devils founder.

Reuters reported that an ankle ligament injury could see the winger miss the remainder of the season, though the problem would be reassessed.

In a statement on his X account, Diallo wrote: “Extremely disappointed to be writing this message in such a crucial time of the season.

“Unfortunately, I will be out for some time with an injury.

“I will come back stronger than ever!! Time to support the boys from the outside. Still loads to play for.”

Diallo’s injury is the latest in a string of setbacks for manager Ruben Amorim.

Fellow youngster Kobbie Mainoo, as well as midfielders Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer, are unlikely to be fit for the clash in north London.

Youngster Jack Moorhouse has been drafted in from the reserves to address the shortage.

United can call upon veterans Casemiro and Christian Eriksen to compensate for their absences, but Marcus Rashford and Antony’s loan departures, to Aston Villa and Real Betis respectively, leave a hole on the left-side of the pitch.

New signing Patrick Dorgu can play as a left wing-back, but Luke Shaw is struggling for fitness and Tyrrell Malacia has been sent on loan to PSV Eindhoven for the rest of the season.

Diogo Dalot has also filled in on the left flank, as has Noussair Mazrouai in his first year at Old Trafford.

United are also without long-term absentees Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount and Jonny Evans.

The seasonal Harmattan wind, which usually sweeps in from the Sahara Desert between December and March, was blowing hard last week while rains were mainly below average, farmers told Reuters.

The world’s top cocoa producer is in its dry season which runs from mid-November to March, when rainfall is low.

The farmers said that there were enough pods on cocoa trees to harvest until late January after which harvesting would fall sharply.

In the west-central region of Daloa and in the central region of Yamoussoukro, where no rain fell last week, and in the central region of Bongouanou, where rainfall was weak, farmers said they were concerned by the dry weather.

They said if the Harmattan wind remained strong during the next two weeks and there was still no good rainfall, leaves would start to dry, weakening cocoa trees and lowering the cocoa outlook.

“There is no rain and if the Harmattan remains strong, tree yields will be low from February onwards,” said Albert N’Zue, who farms near Daloa, where no rain fell last week, 3.7 millimetres (mm) below the five-year average.

Farmers also said buyers were looking for more beans to fulfil their contracts before the end of the year so they were offering to pay above the farmgate price of 1,800 CFA francs ($2.88) per kg.

However, in the western region of Soubre and in the southern region of Divo, where rains were weak, and in the southern region of Agboville and the eastern region of Abengourou, where rains were well above average, farmers said growing conditions were good despite the wind.

“We’ve had enough rain. It will help trees produce cocoa from February onwards,” said Roger Koffi, who farms near Abengourou, where 30.1 mm of rain fell last week, 23.2 mm above the five-year average.

Average temperatures across the West African country last week ranged from 24.2 to 28.3 degrees Celsius.

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The Ghana U-20 team, led by coach Desmond Ofei, secured the qualification by defeating the Ivorians 2-1 at the Stade Municipal.

Despite falling behind early to a goal from Konan Loukou, Ghana managed to level the score with a deflected corner just before halftime.

In the second half, top scorer Jerry Afriyie, who has netted four goals in the tournament, clinched the comeback win by converting a superbly taken penalty.

Ofei’s squad held firm for the remainder of the match to seal their place in the final, where they will face either Nigeria or Niger.

With this victory, the Black Satellites have not only advanced to the WAFU B U20 final but also secured their qualification for the 2025 U-20 AFCON.

This marks a return to the continental competition for Ghana, who last won the title in 2021 under coach Abdul Karim Zito.

The 2025 U-20 AFCON will also serve as the African qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, with the top four teams earning a spot in the global tournament.

Ghana’s U-20 team, which topped Group A, will compete against Côte d’Ivoire, the runners-up of Group B, for a spot in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled for next year.

Meanwhile, Nigeria secured the top spot in Group A after a thrilling 2-1 victory over Côte d’Ivoire in a decisive final Group B match on Thursday, October 24, 2024. The Flying Eagles will now face Niger in the other semi-final clash.

The WAFU B U20 Championship serves as the qualification route for the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations, with only the finalists earning a spot in the tournament.

The 2025 U20 AFCON will also act as the African qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, with the top four teams from the tournament automatically qualifying for the World Cup.

He claimed that Ivory Coast has surpassed Ghana as Africa’s second-largest economy.

“Ivory Coast has taken Ghana’s second-largest economy position due to gross mismanagement and a lack of vision from the current regime” he said.

He questioned, “Why is a once large and robust economy, which was second only to Nigeria, now struggling and losing its position to other countries”

At a recent gathering, thousands of constituents from Pru East and West came to hear Mr. Mahama’s message of hope from the NDC.

Addressing the crowd, Mr. Mahama highlighted the high expectations of the youth, who are particularly concerned about job opportunities.

He remarked, “The country’s economy has been drastically destroyed, leading to a growing unemployment rate.”

Mr. Mahama emphasized that, “Ghana was the second-largest economy after Nigeria, but this position has now been cheaply given away to neighbouring Ivory Coast,” attributing the decline to corruption, mismanagement, and incompetence.

Looking ahead, he promised that a future NDC government would work to restore Ghana’s economic prowess, making it more attractive to investors.

“We will restore the country’s economic strength to ensure it remains competitive and appealing for investment,” Mr. Mahama said.

Source: Kwame Anum

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The Black Sharks clinched their qualification with a resounding 5-2 victory over the Ivory Coast in the second leg of their playoff, cementing a 10-5 aggregate win.

The atmosphere was electric at the Stade de Agora in Abidjan as the two West African giants clashed in the decisive match.

The Ivorian side, buoyed by their home crowd, started with high energy and scored twice in the first period of the match.

Minutes into the second period of the match, Ghana’s substitute goalkeeper Robert Nyadedzor’s shot beat the Ivorian goalkeeper who was caught rooted to the spot.

Ghana’s vigor continued in the second period with Wise Nyamadi equalizing shortly after Nyadedzor’s goal.

Ghana’s resilience shone through as the Black Sharks took the lead with a cheeky goal from skipper Richard Martei Osai.

In the final period, the match continued to be a showcase of thrilling beach soccer. Ghana extended the lead with a powerful strike from Precious Torgbor before Jude Asante Aklie slotted in Ghana’s 5th goal on the day.

The aggregate score of 10-5 is a testament to Ghana’s offensive prowess and defensive solidity throughout the two-legged playoff.

This victory not only secures their place in the 2024 AFCON but also marks a significant achievement for Ghanaian beach soccer, a sport that has been steadily gaining prominence in the country.

Ghana’s head coach, Daniel Neequaye Kotey, expressed his elation in a post-match interview: “I’m incredibly proud of the team’s performance. We came into this match with a clear strategy, and the players executed it flawlessly. Qualifying for the AFCON is a huge milestone for us, and we look forward to representing Ghana with pride in Egypt.”

As the Black Sharks prepare for the 2024 AFCON, the nation’s fans are already buzzing with anticipation.

The tournament, set to take place along the picturesque beaches of Egypt, promises to be an exciting showcase of Africa’s top beach soccer talent.

With Ghana’s impressive qualification performance, the stage is set for a thrilling tournament where they will look to make a significant impact and further establish themselves as a powerhouse in African beach soccer.

The Nations Cup has long had issues around its scheduling, and the repeated battles between clubs and countries over its timing and player release could ease with fewer tournaments.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) said the finals should be played in June and July from 2019 onwards, but the last two tournaments have taken place in the once-traditional slot of January-February – midway through the European club season.

“It will be good to be as in Europe and South America and play every four years,” said Fae, who helped carry out the recent qualifying draw for the 2025 Afcon in Morocco.

“I think it will be easier for the players, because they will have less games and will maybe be stronger if they play less.”

The dates were only recently announced for next year’s competition in Morocco, where it will start in December for the first time – with games scheduled to be played over the Christmas period – and finish in January.

Organisers had hoped it could be played in June and July next year, but Fifa’s newly expanded 32-team Club World Cup – which will last a month, rather than its previous 10 days – now occupies that window.

Caf general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba recently told BBC Sport Africa that player welfare issues were part of the reason it had taken so long to confirm dates for the 2025 Nations Cup.

But discussions to turn the tournament into a quadrennial event were “not on the table”, he added.

Shortly after taking charge of Caf in March 2021, Patrice Motsepe said he was in “no doubt” the Afcon had to be played every two years, as he publicly disagreed with a 2020 statement from Fifa president Gianni Infantino that the tournament should be a four-year affair.

The South African billionaire businessman, whose path to the Caf presidency had been aided by both Fifa and Infantino, said the income from the Nations Cup, which provides the lion’s share of the African body’s revenue, was needed to assure proper financial foundations.

‘Good for Africa’

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Image caption: Marouane Chamakh represented Morocco at three Africa Cup of Nations finals

First played in 1957, the Nations Cup has taken place every two years since the late 1960s, with the only three-year gap since coming when the coronavirus pandemic meant the nominal 2021 edition was moved to 2022.

In contrast to Fae, former Morocco forward Marouane Chamakh believes a biennial Cup of Nations remains “good for Africa”.

“We need to be better at everything,” said the ex-Arsenal man when discussing how the tournament benefits the game on the continent.

“All federations and people can grow better (if Afcon is played every two years).”

Playing the tournament during the middle of the European season has previously led to club-versus-country commitment rows but Chamakh, who scored 18 goals in 63 games for Morocco, does not believe the December move will make the issue any worse.

“When there is an empty time (in the calendar), we see the likes of Fifa and Uefa putting a competition (there),” said the 40-year-old.

“We have African competitions and they have to be the priority for everyone – for the clubs or anyone else.

“The English Premier League is the one of the best championships (but) we don’t rest in December and in January – you don’t have any break. So we don’t need any breaks. It’s fine for me.”

Having led Ivory Coast to a remarkable Nations Cup triumph on home turf in February, having been put in temporary charge after the group stage, Fae agrees that it is “the same problem” whether Afcon begins in December or January.

“It will be two weeks earlier, but I think players are used to this kind of problem,” said the former Reading midfielder.

“All Ivory Coast players want to come to the national team to play for their country. So, at each international break we will have all our players and we will be ready for the games.”

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is scheduled to begin on 21 December next year and finish on 18 January 2026.

Five months later, Africa’s top players – some of whom will have contested the 2025 Club World Cup – will then play the 2026 World Cup as well.

In his debut as a national team coach, the former Ghanaian winger attributed the overwhelming victory to the meticulous planning and execution by his coaching staff.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Kingston revealed that he initially contemplated a tactical change during the game but was convinced by his technical team to stick to the original game plan, which ultimately proved successful.

“At a point in time, in the game, I wanted to change to a 3-4-3 system because we started with a 4-3-3 one but when I spoke with my technical team, they told me to stick to our original plan because it was working,” he said.

“We typically have two systems of play. In Russia, we played 4-3-3 against the hosts and 3-4-3 against Serbia in our second game. Most of the time,  we deploy a plan based on what we know of the opponent but we always stick to the plan.

“We managed to watch their games against Argentina and France and we focused more on when they are on and off the ball. We did a bit of opponent analysis with the boys and it worked for us. I thank the technical team and everyone who supported this cause,” he noted.

The Black Starlets will face Benin in their next group game of the 2024 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship on Tuesday.

Ghana currently leads the table with 3 points, followed by Benin, who are yet to play, with Ivory Coast at the bottom.

The Black Starlets secured a dominant 5-1 win over Ivory Coast in their opening match of the 2024 WAFU Zone B Championship at the University of Ghana Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

While celebrating the victory, Kingston acknowledged the challenge posed by the Ivorian side, making it difficult for his team to showcase their skills on the field.

“It is a joy we have to enjoy and have today but trust me like I said last time it wasn’t an easy game the Ivorians are a very good side,” he said.

“Thumbs up to their technical team they have done a very good job they made it very difficult for us we are a ball-playing team but because of the way the Ivorians are playing, we found it difficult to keep the ball.

“Like I said earlier on we have a plan but we shouldn’t be prisoners to our plan, we approached the game differently and tried to close down the space,” he added.

Despite the tough challenge, Ghana took the lead in the 27th minute through Joseph Narbi, who doubled the score in the 42nd minute, giving Ghana a comfortable 2-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Godfred Sarpong extended Ghana’s lead to 3-0 in the 48th minute, followed by Harve Gbafa making it 4-0 in the 53rd minute.

Although Ivory Coast managed to score a consolation goal, Mark Kagawa Mensah sealed Ghana’s victory with their fifth goal in the 90+1 minute.

Ghana will face Benin in their final Group A match in six days.

The sources, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said they were citing a decision at a government meeting on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, Ouattara had validated a proposal for a price of between 1,100 and 1,200 CFA francs per kg before reversing his decision and asking that the price be even higher, the sources said

The government and the cocoa regulator the Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

Cocoa prices have more than tripled over the last year as disease and adverse weather pushed the global market to a third successive deficit, but the official farmgate price that growers can charge for their beans in Ivory Coast, a top producer, has yet to reflect this.

“There were several proposals on the table and as a last resort the president wanted the highest possible price for the producers so he decided 1,500 CFA per kg instead of 1,200 CFA, which had been validated previously,” the director of a European export company told Reuters.

“Ultimately in the current context, this is the best possible price that the CCC can pay because the sales system in Ivory Coast is such that it is difficult to change prices during the season,” the person added.

The director of another international export company said: “The president judged the world market situation to be exceptional and wanted an exceptional reaction too.”

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Fae stepped in as interim coach after the departure of veteran French coach, Jean-Louis Gasset during the tournament.

Despite Ivory Coast’s initial struggles in the group stage, Fae’s leadership saw them through to the knockout stages, benefiting from favourable results elsewhere.

During his interim stint, Fae showcased his coaching prowess by orchestrating memorable comebacks, including a thrilling victory against Senegal in the round of 16, overcoming Mali with 10 men in the quarter-finals, and securing a narrow 1-0 win over DR Congo in the semi-finals.

The pinnacle of Fae’s interim coaching success came with Ivory Coast’s triumph over Nigeria in the final, clinching their first AFCON title since 2015.

His exceptional performance led to his confirmation as the permanent coach by Idriss Diallo, the head of the Ivorian federation, who announced the decision on Monday, stating, “Emerse was until now interim coach and has just been confirmed today as a full coach.”

As the permanent coach, Fae’s key objectives include securing qualification for the 2025 AFCON tournament and defending the title. Additionally, he aims to guide the team to qualification for the 2026 World Cup, after they missed out on the previous two tournaments.

Fae’s tactical expertise, leadership qualities, and ability to motivate players have garnered praise from both fans and pundits, signalling a promising future for Ivory Coast football under his stewardship.

The defeat, sealed by a last-minute goal from 10-man Ivory Coast, came as a shock to Mali, who had dominated the game and even held a numerical advantage in terms of players.

Despite a precise shot by Nene Dorgeles in the first half that gave Mali the lead, Ivory Coast managed to equalize in the 90th minute and eventually secured the win with a header from Diakite in extra time.

Chelle’s visible distress at the final whistle was later explained as a result of dizziness and a spike in blood pressure, which he experienced after Ivory Coast’s second goal.

“Following the second goal from the Elephants, I began to feel dizzy and my blood pressure shot up,” Chelle said. “Fortunately, a fellow Mali national poured water on my head, which helped to stabilize my blood pressure.”

Despite the unfortunate end to their AFCON journey, Mali’s overall performance filled their supporters with pride. They had topped their group and eliminated Burkina Faso in the previous round, showcasing their resilience and skill.

Looking ahead, Mali has their sights set on the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. They are set to face Ghana in June of this year, aiming to continue their impressive run and secure a spot in the prestigious tournament.

Despite facing challenges during the group stage, Ivory Coast astounded the continent by winning the 34th edition of AFCON.

Their journey culminated in a thrilling final showdown against Nigeria, who had their sights set on securing their fourth title.

In a gripping match, the Elephants initially fell behind in the first half with a goal from William Troost-Ekong of Nigeria.

However, they mounted a stunning comeback in the second half, netting two goals courtesy of Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller, ultimately clinching their third AFCON title.

During a special gathering to commend the players, Emerse Fae, who served as the interim coach and led the team to victory, was bestowed with a prestigious award of €150,000.

Additionally, the entire technical staff received a collective sum of €600,000, while each player was honoured with €76,000 in recognition of their outstanding achievement.

Also, the Elephants were awarded a substantial prize sum of $7 million (£5.54 million) by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for their triumph, while Nigeria received $4 million in recognition of their commendable performance in the tournament.

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The announcement came during a gathering at the Council Chamber in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where President Tinubu warmly welcomed the players and officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Senator John Owan Enoh, the Minister of Sports Development, led the delegation accompanying the President.

Adorn in their distinctive green attire, the Super Eagles, who clinched the runner-up position at the 34th edition of the AFCON in Ivory Coast, were honoured guests at the ceremony.

Among them was Alex Iwobi, who had unfortunately faced online criticism following Nigeria’s loss to Côte d’Ivoire in the final match.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu commended the team, coach, crew, and management for their unwavering dedication and resilience throughout the tournament.

He recognized the challenges they had overcome, leading to an impressive performance culminating in the finals.

President Tinubu encouraged Nigerians to maintain their resilience, emphasizing the nation’s triumph in capturing the hearts of Africa and the world through the team’s determination on the field.

“Let this recent event not discourage us, but rather unite us to strive harder. We are a great nation united under the green-white-green banner of resilience, joy, hope, duty, and unwavering love.

“To the cherished Nigerian youths showcasing their talents in communities, etching lines in the sand as they play football in their humble rectangles of play, you could be our future heroes. Do not waver in your pursuit. My administration stands ready to turn dreams into reality” President Tinubu said.

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There were surprise success stories almost every step of the way, with the Elephants serving up more plot twists than a Hollywood thriller before securing the silverware.

Much had also been made of the impact the finals would have in the host country after an unprecedented spend on preparations which stretched far beyond football.

BBC Sport Africa takes a look at some of the winners and losers from 30 unforgettable days of drama at the 34th edition of the continent’s biggest event.

The winners

Ivory Coast and Emerse Fae

Sebastien Haller, who returned from testicular cancer 13 months ago, netted the decisive goals in the semi-final and final to seal a third continental title for the Ivorians.

It was also a major success for an interim coach who was taking charge of his fourth game in senior management.

“It is more than a fairy tale,” stand-in boss Emerse Fae said after the comeback win over Nigeria in the final.

“When I think about all we have been through, we are miracle survivors. We managed to come back from so many tough blows.”

The Ivorians had parted company with coach Jean-Louis Gasset after almost suffering a group-stage exit, needed penalties to beat the defending champions Senegal in the last 16 and scored a 122nd-minute winner in the quarter-finals.

It remains to be seen if the 40-year-old will keep the job permanently, something he had refused to discuss before the final.

“The honest truth is that I asked those in charge not to talk to us about what is going to happen after the competition,” Fae added.

The host nation

The Ivorian government spent well over $1bn (£789m) on hosting the tournament, including the building of four new stadiums and renovation of two others.

Airports, roads, hospitals and hotels were either constructed or upgraded in the five host cities of Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, San Pedro and Yamoussoukro, which is the capital of a nation ranked as the world’s 138th-richest out of 190.

The excitement in the country was epitomised by the number of replica orange shirts spotted on the streets of the country and attendance at games were strong after a slow start.

With improved transport links which could boost tourism in the future, President Alassane Ouattara joined in the post-match celebrations – perhaps reflecting on money well spent in staging the finals.

“With the image we showed, Africa must be proud,” said Ivory Coast co-captain Serge Aurier after the final.

“We have progressed, whether it be the teams, the stadiums, the living environment.”

Thousands of fans then flooded the streets of Abidjan for a trophy parade on Monday.

The underdogs

The finals delivered upsets aplenty, with Equatorial Guinea thrashing the hosts and finishing above Nigeria in Group A, while Cape Verde also topped their group ahead of more illustrious opponents.

Namibia and Angola, who were among the four lowest-ranked teams in the group stage, reached the knockout stages while Mauritania registered their first win at the finals.

South Africa upset Morocco on their way to the last four. More tellingly, the surprise results and performances were not flukes.

“The gap between the big nations and the small ones is shrinking,” said Herita Ilunga, the former DR Congo defender who is part of the Confederation of African Football’s technical study group.

“It proves the development of African football.”

The viewers

The 2023 finals served up a record 119 goals at an average of 2.29 a game. Not since 2012 (2.38 goals per game) has that figure been bettered.

Caf said more than two billion people watched the tournament live on TV – making it by far the most-watched Nations Cup finals in history – with 173 territories across the globe broadcasting the final.

Late goals were a particular feature, with Group B alone providing more after the 89th minute than the entire 2021 tournament did.

The four shootout saves in the quarter-finals by South Africa’s Ronwen Williams showed that the goalkeepers were in blockbuster mode, too.

William Troost-Ekong

Despite finishing on the losing side, the Nigeria captain was named as player of the tournament following his three goals at the finals.

The 30-year-old scored high-pressure penalties against Ivory Coast in the group stage and South Africa in the semi-final before opening the scoring against the Elephants in the final.

He marshalled a Super Eagles defence which kept four clean sheets, and the centre-back became the first defender to score three goals at a single Nations Cup since Libya’s Ali Al-Beshari in 1982.

VAR and officials

You will rarely see a coach praise the use of technology when it goes against their team – but Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro did just that when he reflected on one extraordinary semi-final plot twist.

The Super Eagles thought they had gone 2-0 up in the 85th minute through Victor Osimhen, but South Africa were awarded a penalty instead for a foul in the build-up.

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviews were used judiciously – and extremely effectively – across the tournament.

The losers

Ghana

The four-time champions slid out at the group stage in calamitous style, gifting Cape Verde a 92nd-minute winner and allowing Mozambique to score twice in second-half injury time.

Coach Chris Hughton was duly dismissed, having struggled to ease the pressure his squad had faced to record a first triumph for their country since 1982.

A second successive winless campaign was another meek Nations Cup showing by the Black Stars. Their only solace came when fierce West African rivals Nigeria lost the final.

North African nations

There had been North African finalists at the previous three tournaments, so the failure of any of their contingent to make the quarter-finals was a big surprise.

All four representatives from the region were among the five highest-ranked teams, but Algeria exited after a sensational defeat by Mauritania and Tunisia lost to a Namibia side ranked 85 places below them.

In the last 16, 2022 World Cup semi-finals Morocco succumbed to Bafana Bafana and record seven-time champions Egypt were ousted on penalties by DR Congo.

Morocco will host the 2025 Nations Cup, where they will be targeting a first title since their sole triumph in 1976.

Mohamed Salah

Having been a runner-up in 2017 and at the 2021 edition, the Egypt captain spoke of his desire to end his country’s 14-year wait for the title.

The Liverpool forward rescued a late draw for the Pharaohs in their opener against Mozambique, but was forced off before half-time in their second group game against Ghana.

A brief soap opera played out over the status of his hamstring injury, with a crucial update from his agent and a murmuring of discontent between Egypt and the Reds before the North Africans exited on penalties.

Salah is yet to return to action for the Premier League title challengers – and he will be 33 by the time of the next Nations Cup finals.

The coaches

If Hughton wanted consolation after becoming the first managerial casualty of the Nations Cup, seven of his 23 fellow managers who started the finals were gone before the tournament ended.

Algeria’s Djamel Belmadi, Tunisia’s Jalel Kadri and Egypt’s Rui Vitoria also paid the price for poor tournaments.

Tom Saintfiet resigned as The Gambia boss after their exit, while Guinea-Bissau and Burkina Faso decided not to renew the contracts of Baciro Cande and Hubert Velud respectively.

Elsewhere, Adel Amrouche was suspended by Tanzania in the wake of receiving an eight-match Caf ban.

The hosts defeated Nigeria 2-1 to win Afcon for a third time, prompting huge celebrations across the country.

Cecilia, who was born in Ivory Coast but now lives in the US, told the BBC she had travelled home for the final.

“That’s the best decision of my life,” she said.

Ivory Coast were unlikely winners. They lost two group games and fired their manager mid-tournament. Emerse Fae, a youth-team manager, took over for his first job leading a senior team.

Four games later, he was lifting a trophy.

Juliette Youan told the BBC: “Emerse Fae is a hero of Ivory Coast.”

“We are so proud to celebrate our hero. Vive Emerse! Emerse is the best coach,” she added.

Ms Youan and her friends made special T-shirts to commemorate Fae for leading the country to victory.

The parade began at Hôtel Palmier and the crowd built slowly from around midday, becoming more boisterous as the parade’s scheduled start time approached.

As numbers grew, so did the noise, with horns blaring and chants breaking out, accompanied by dancing.

At around 15:00 GMT, the first players suddenly appeared on the flatbed truck that would take them on their journey through Abidjan to the over 30,0000 capacity Félix Houphouët Boigny stadium for a trophy presentation.

The banners on the truck announced the Elephants as “Champions of Africa 2023” and featured three stars, a nod to the fact that the team has now won this competition on three occasions.

Their underdog story resonated throughout the streets as people danced, rejoicing in their amazing comeback.

“It’s amazing. The first part of the tournament was very difficult but afterwards, the players played very well and today we are very happy. Today we have to do some parties, it’s obligatory,” said Kwaku, another fan at the parade.

Looking relaxed in short-sleeved training tops, sunglasses, baseball caps and with gold medals around their necks, the players smiled out at the adoring crowds, leaning against the barrier, taking selfies and waving the Ivorian flag.

At one point, Captain Serge Aurier even helped lift a young fan onto the truck for a photo before handing him back to his waiting father.

The celebrations continue on Tuesday with a reception at the presidential palace.

Ivory Coast’s tale of triumph was made even better as the goal that clinched the trophy for the team was scored by Sébastien Haller, who had been diagnosed with testicular cancer a few months ago.

“We hoped to get to this point and once again the match wasn’t an easy one. The joyous scenes we see now, what’s happening in the country, they deserve it too. I really hope it does a lot of people good,” said Haller.

“We are very, very proud of our three stars on our jersey. We [the Ivorian people] have passed through many, many things, and today we are happy, we get together,” one fan told the BBC.

Given the reaction, it is clear members of this victorious squad will be viewed as national heroes for years to come.

Fans around the world are already dubbing Ivory Coast’s win one of the greatest turnaround in football tournament history.

Despite Nigeria taking the lead with a goal by William Troost-Ekong in the first half, the Ivorian team showcased resilience in the second half.

The host nation staged a remarkable comeback, netting two goals courtesy of Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller.

This determined effort secured the victory for the Elephants, marking their third AFCON title at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé.

Below is the list of awards given at the AFCON:

Ecobank Best Goalkeeper

Ronwen Williams – South Africa

Air Côte d’Ivoire Fair Play Team award

South Africa

Puma Golden Boot winner

Emilio Nsue – Equatorial Guinea (5 goals)

Puma Silver Boot winner

Gelson Dala – Angola (4 goals)

Puma Bronze boot winner

Mostafa Mohamed – Egypt (4 goals)

TotalEnergies Man of the competition

William Troost-Ekong – Nigeria

Best Young Player award

Simon Adingra – Cote d’Ivoire

Best Coach award 

Emerse Faé – Cote d’Ivoire

In a thrilling final match against Nigeria on Sunday night at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé, the Elephants displayed remarkable resilience, overcoming an initial deficit to secure a 2-1 victory.

William Troost-Ekong netted the opener for the Super Eagles in the first half but second-half goals from Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller turned the tide in favour of the host nation.

This historic win marked Cote d’Ivoire’s first-ever AFCON title, earning them not only the coveted gold medal but also the revised prize money.

Before the start of the 34th edition of the AFCON tournament, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had announced a generous 40% increase in the prize money for the winner.

Meanwhile, Nigeria, despite their strong performance throughout the tournament, had to settle for second place, along with a cash prize of $4 million.

Other cash prizes include $2.5 million for South Africa, who secured third place, and DR Congo, who finished fourth. Additionally, teams exiting in the quarterfinals will receive $1.3 million each.

The striker, who had also netted the semi-final winner just 13 months on from his return from testicular cancer, flicked in Simon Adingra’s cross with the toe of his boot with nine minutes remaining to complete a second-half comeback and spark wild celebrations in Abidjan.

William Troost-Ekong had put Nigeria ahead seven minutes before the end of a cagey first half when the centre-back rose highest to powerfully head in from nine yards out following a corner.

Franck Kessie nodded in the equaliser in the 62nd minute when he was left unmarked at the back post from Adingra’s corner.

After a remarkable run to the final, which included the departure of coach Jean-Louis Gasset after two defeats in the group stage, the Ivorians clinched a third continental title with a deserved victory.

The West Africans add to their previous Nations Cup wins in 1992 and 2015 and become the first tournament hosts to triumph since Egypt lifted the trophy in 2006.

Interim coach Emerse Fae masterminded Ivory Coast’s passage through the knockout stages, which included dramatic victories over defending champions Senegal and Mali after late equalisers in both games.

Ivory Coast spent more than $1bn (£0.79bn) on hosting the tournament, investing a similar amount on improving infrastructure in the country, and Ivorian President Alassane Outtara joined in the post-match celebrations in the stadium bearing his name.

The Elephants pick up $7m (£5.54m) in prize money, with Nigeria handed $4m by the Confederation of African Football.

Nigeria, three-time continental champions themselves, had previously been unbeaten at the finals, including a 1-0 win over the Ivorians in the group stage, but the Super Eagles rarely imposed themselves after sitting back for most of the contest.

Adingra inspires Elephants turnaround

Ivory Coast dominated most of the first half in front of a fervent crowd at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium but failed to carve out chances as Nigeria sat deep and soaked up pressure.

The game sparked into life after the drinks break on the half-hour mark, with Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali blocking Adingra’s shot from a narrow-angle before Nigeria left-back Zaidu Sanusi won a corner when his effort was blocked by Odilon Kossounou.

Ademola Lookman’s inswinging corner was headed up into the air by Ivory Coast midfielder Jean Michael Seri at the near post, and Troost-Ekong leapt above Serge Aurier to guide the ball back across goal and past the despairing dive of Elephants keeper Yahia Fofana.

The Ivorians came out with renewed purpose after the break, with the lively Adingra at the heart of their best moments on the left flank.

A dangerous low cross from the Brighton winger was tipped away by Nwabali and Calvin Bassey made a crucial block to prevent an equaliser after Max Gradel pounced on the loose ball.

Nwabali then had to dive to his right to scramble a long-range shot from Kossounou wide, and the Elephants equalised from the resulting corner as the Nigeria defence somehow failed to pick up Kessie.

The Super Eagles had a chance to retake the lead when Troost-Ekong headed a free-kick from Ademola Lookman wide, but the decisive moment came from an inspired finish by Haller when the Borussia Dortmund man stuck out his right leg to flick Adingra’s cross past Nwabali.

Fairy tale ending for Fae

The tournament, which was delayed from its intended staging in June and July last year because of weather concerns in West Africa, will live long in the memory after a record number of goals, unrelenting shocks and an apparent capacity for unceasing drama.

Much of that was provided by the hosts, who had appeared on the brink of an early exit after a shock 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea in their final Group A outing.

Gasset departed as coach and Fae managed to instil renewed belief after inheriting a side which were given a second life as one of four best-ranked third-placed sides.

Progress had been secured after Morocco – whose national flag Ivory Coast co-captain Max Gradel waved before lifting the trophy – beat Zambia in the final round of group games to stop the southern Africans from stealing their spot.

Elephants supporters had understandably been left reeling after that defeat by the Equatoguineans but rallied behind a side which showed incredible mental fortitude to eliminate Senegal and Mali in two epic ties, prior to a far more routine victory against DR Congo in the semi-finals.

Fae, who was part of the Ivory Coast side that finished runners-up to Egypt in 2006 – a campaign in which he played every minute, has now won Africa’s biggest prize in just his fourth game in senior management.

The resilience of the 40-year-old’s side was underlined as the hosts held their nerve after falling behind against the run of play in front of a sea of orange in the final.

Ivory Coast become the 12 host nation to win the Nations Cup title, while Nigeria will be left to rue a fifth defeat in the showpiece game – and their second in Abidjan after losing to Cameroon in 1984.

The Super Eagles are aiming for a fourth continental crown in Abidjan while the Ivorians are looking to add to their triumphs in 1992 and 2015.

The teams will meet for the second time at this year’s finals, 24 days after the Ivorians suffered a first-ever home defeat by Nigeria when they won 1-0 in the group stage.

The Elephants are the first host nation to reach the final since Egypt in 2006, with five of the last six hosts to have contested the final having gone on to lift the trophy – the only exception being the Super Eagles themselves in 2000.

Unbeaten unlike their opponents, the Nigerians are the highest-ranked of the finalists – rated sixth in Africa (and 42nd in the world), as opposed to Ivory Coast’s African ranking of eighth (and 49th overall).

Seeking a first title since 2013, Nigeria cruised through the group stages with seven points before, amid a run of four straight clean sheets, defeating Cameroon, Angola and South Africa in the knockout stages.

After the Nigeria loss, Ivory Coast then suffered a record home – and Nations Cup – defeat by Equatorial Guinea (0-4), only squeezing through as a best third-placed side before coming to life with dramatic knock-out wins over Senegal and Mali before beating DR Congo in the last four.

After one of the best Nations Cups in living memory, the hope is that Sunday’s final (20:00 GMT) in Abidjan’s 60,000-seater stadium will providing a fitting climax.

“The organisation has been brilliant, the pitches great, we’ve seen some unbelievable matches and now Ivory Coast is in the final with Nigeria – what a game,” former Elephant Kolo Toure enthused to the BBC.

‘Collective effort’ to boost Nigeria

Even though they are playing in Abidjan, Nigeria are the nominal home side – and in spite of the intense backing provided by the Ivorian fans, whose support has been regularly praised by the national squad, the Nigeria camp say they would not have it any other way.

“The atmosphere will be fantastic and my players and staff all prefer to play in a full stadium, despite the level of noise,” Nigeria coach Jose Pereiro said on Saturday.

“Ivory Coast were favourites ahead of this tournament, but we want to win this Nations Cup. My only plan is to beat Ivory Coast and win this trophy for the people of Nigeria.”

Appointed in 2022, the former Sporting Lisbon and Porto coach has been widely criticised by Nigerian fans throughout much of his tenure but now stands on the verge of adding to titles won in 1980, 1994 and 2013.

During all three of those triumphs, the Super Eagles played Ivory Coast – against whom they have won three times and lost twice during their seven previous meetings at the finals.

With a backline superbly marshalled by former Watford centre-back William Troost-Ekong and long-term West Brom defender Semi Ajayi, Nigeria have conceded just two goals in six games – while scoring seven at the other end.

Surprisingly, only one of those has come from Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, the reigning African Footballer of the Year who has converted just one of his 24 chances, albeit while having had two goals ruled out by VAR and another disallowed for handball.

Nonetheless, Osimhen has earned plaudits for his tireless running and pressing and played the semi-final despite stomach problems, where he earned the penalty from which Nigeria converted their only goal.

“He doesn’t play like a star, but fights for the team,” said the Portuguese Peseiro, 63.

“He knows he’s an important player and because of that, he suffers for the team – getting kicked around – but he helps us as much as the team helps him. It’s a collective effort and we fight together.”

With Osimhen failing to add to his goal in Nigeria’s opener, Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman is Nigeria’s top scorer with three goals, while Troost-Ekong, having netted two high-pressure penalties, is the only other Nigerian to have scored (an own-goal aside).

‘I’m not the special one’

Fittingly for a competition which has been played in excellent spirit, Peseiro took time on Saturday to “congratulate Emerse Fae” for the interim Ivory Coast coach’s impressive handling of his side after taking over a seemingly sinking ship.

After coach Jean-Louis Gasset vacated his role shortly after the Elephants’ group campaign, with some saying the Frenchman chose to resign rather than being fired, former Ivorian international Fae stepped in just hours before the team staggered into the knockout stages.

There has been little limp about the side ever since, with the Ivorians showing incredible mental fortitude when finding late equalisers en route to eliminating defending champions Senegal and Mali in two epic ties, prior to a far more routine victory against DR Congo on Wednesday.

Having previously coached Nice’s youth teams and the reserve team of French Ligue 1 club Clermont Foot, Fae – who had been Gasset’s assistant since the latter’s appointment in May 2022 – rejected talk of him being a “special one” on Saturday.

“I said from the start that I was fortunate to know the squad for two years,” he said. “We just tried to focus on building the right chemistry – I haven’t invented anything but done all the basics, like making all the players feel important and building cohesion.

“We deserve to be in the final and the most important thing was to regain confidence, rebuild the team and it was good to tidy things in defence. We’ve been taking things one step at a time.”

Forced to quit playing at the age of 28 because of vein inflammation issues in his legs, Fae was part of the Ivorian side that finished runners-up in 2006, a campaign in which he played every minute.

He will now try to ensure the two-time champions score their first goal in a Nations Cup final, with their four previous appearances in the continent’s showpiece football finale all going to penalties after ending goalless.

With the Ivorians’ six goals all having been scored by different players, Fae will hope that the revitalised Sebastien Haller – who scored the semi-final winner in the striker’s first start at the finals – can continue to impress following his month-long lay-off with an ankle injury.

“Since December, I’ve been working hard with the physios to be here,” said the 29-year-old, who returned to football just over a year ago after battling back from testicular cancer. “I feel the pressure as a striker, it’s a big responsibility but that’s how football works.

“Playing in front of our people gives us the motivation to perform, and I hope this good pressure will help the team. The last two years have been tough and challenging for me. When you see everything that has happened, it’s great to be here and on Sunday I’ll enjoy it.”

Having had to cope without four suspended players in the semi-finals, Fae will have the rarity of being able to select from a near full-strength squad on Sunday – when he says he is prepared for whatever eventuality this most unpredictable of Nations Cup may have left to offer.

“The main lesson we’ve drawn at this competition is that you have to expect the unexpected,” said a man who could win the continent’s most prestigious tournament in only his fourth game in charge.

Shortly after the country’s heaviest ever home – and Nations Cup – defeat, when losing 4-0 to Equatorial Guinea in their final group game, Ivorian supporters booed inside the Abidjan arena before some vandalised buses and other property in scenes that were widely condemned.

Nonetheless, former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Toure says a result that left the Elephants on a precipice, one they eventually retreated from after squeezing through as a best third-placed side, lies behind their place in Sunday’s final against Nigeria.

“That loss was a big wake-up call for the players because they saw that fans in the country were really, really angry,” the 42-year-old told the World Football at Afcon podcast.

“A few things happened and since that game I think the players realised how that important the tournament was for the country. That was a turning point.”

Part of the second – and last – Ivorian team to lift the trophy, when defeating Ghana on penalties in the 2015 final, Toure considers the replacement of French coach Jean-Louis Gasset with Emerse Fae to be the other key moment for a side that has been on a rollercoaster ride.

Midfielder Fae – who has overseen knock-out wins against Senegal, Mali and DR Congo – played in the same team as centre-back Toure for many years, even contesting the 2006 final which the Ivorians lost to host nation Egypt on spot-kicks.

“Emerse is a great guy – he knows the culture of the country, was inside the team and knew its mentality,” Toure explained.

“He has brought discipline both on and off the pitch.

“He has brought tactical discipline because we have a midfield with really good players – Ibrahim Sangare, Franck Kessie and Seko Fofana – but against Equatorial Guinea, I felt those three were running all over the pitch with no discipline.

“Since taking over, he has also brought back some competition – making big changes when bringing in Jean-Michael Seri and Odilon Kossounou in the last 16 and those two were really good against Senegal.”

Fae rang the changes against the defending champions, selecting Seri, Bayer Leverkusen defender Kossounou and the evergreen Max-Alain Gradel, 36, for their first starts while dropping Kessie to the bench.

The bold changes restored the structure to a side galvanised by their new manager, who made full use of his bench from where former AC Milan and Barcelona star Kessie rose to score two decisive penalties.

Elephantine expectations

Full of praise for his country’s Nations Cup hosting, which has seen at least $1bn invested by the government, Toure also lauded Ivory Coast’s fans, who have recently backed their team with a feverish intensity.

“The fans are unbelievable and you can see that all the country is passionate about this Nations Cup,” he rallied.

“Some of them don’t have food or a clean place to sleep but when the football comes, they forget their daily struggles and they expect the players to give 150%. As long as you give everything, they have no problem with you.

“If Ivory Coast win the match, it’s going to be double the celebration of 2015!”

If the Ivorians are to claim a third title, with their first success in 1992 also coming against Ghana, they must avenge a 1-0 defeat by Nigeria in the group stage, when Toure feels his nation failed tactically.

“Nigeria changed their shape, playing a 5-4-1 defensively and a 3-4-3 offensively, which really disturbed us. We never found the solution to stop them hitting us on the counterattack,” he said.

“With Victor Osimhen up front, and Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman (out wide), they are really dangerous in transition.

“We need speed at the back because as soon as Nigeria get the ball, they will look for Osimhen who is super quick – he may have scored only once so far, but what he brings to that team is incredible.”

‘I never believed in this team’

Nigeria, meanwhile, have proved all their doubters wrong with their Nations Cup displays, according to former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye.

Ranked 42nd in the world and sixth in Africa, not much was expected from Jose Peseiro’s team after some underwhelming results in late 2023.

“I never believed in this team. Their form before the tournament and injuries to key players gave no one any hope,” Ideye, a Nations Cup winner with Nigeria in 2013, told BBC Sport Africa.

“They’ve proved a lot of us wrong by reaching the final. I’m really proud of them.”

The three-time champions beat South Africa on penalties to reach the final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, where they will renew their rivalry with the Ivorians after William Troost-Ekong’s second-half penalty gave Nigeria victory on 18 January.

“The final will be different but the players must be calm,” says Ideye, who played against a Didier Drogba-led Ivorian side at the 2013 Nations Cup.

“There will be orange everywhere at the stadium. The Super Eagles must not be scared. It will be difficult but these players have shown they understand what is at stake.”

Sunday’s meeting will be the eighth Nations Cup finals clash – but a first title decider – between the west African rivals, with Nigeria boasting four wins and a draws from their previous outings.

Two-time champions Ivory Coast will become the first host nation to play in the final of their own tournament since Egypt in 2006.

Formation change has ‘not helped’ Osimhen

Nigeria’s campaign started with a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea, with Napoli striker Osimhen heading home the Super Eagles’ equaliser.

Since then, the current African Footballer of the Year has failed to add more goals, despite his impressive work rate which has resulted in an assist and two penalties won for his team.

“Osimhen cannot do it all alone. The change in formation has not really helped him get chances,” former West Bromwich Albion and Dynamo Kyiv forward Brown said.

“The 5-4-1 formation can be very tiring for the lone striker.”

Unlucky to have had two goals disallowed by VAR, Osimhen is expected to lead Nigeria’s title quest on Sunday, while Atalanta winger Lookman is their top scorer with three goals.

“Lookman has been a great back-up plan. He has had an amazing tournament,” Brown added.

“The whole country (Nigeria) needs this trophy. It will bring so much joy to us.”

Severely criticised for the team’s poor form before the Nations Cup, coach Peseiro has now been heralded for turning the team around at a crucial time.

The Super Eagles have scored in all their six matches while keeping four clean sheets, and conceding just twice.

“If Peseiro wins the Afcon, he should continue,” suggests Ideye of the Portuguese, who is yet to commit his future beyond the Nations Cup.

“If you’re not good, you can’t win a tournament as big as the Afcon.”

Having been on the brink of a group-stage exit and then making dramatic progress to the last four, the West Africans are now one game away from their third continental title.

“We knew we had the potential to succeed and go far in the competition,” Haller said after netting the winner against DR Congo on Wednesday.

“The quality on the field is all over. There were lots of things missing from the start of the competition, and we have been trying to find the things that were missing to perform.”

The Ivorians will now face Nigeria in the final in Abidjan on Sunday (20:00 GMT) but, in some ways, Haller is lucky to be back on the pitch as a professional.

Just over a year ago Haller scored his first goal for Borussia Dortmund to wild acclaim, as he was buried beneath a sea of yellow-clad team-mates.

The goal came eight months after he had signed for the German club, but the outpouring of emotion was not just that he had finally scored.

For in July 2022, just two weeks after joining the Bundesliga side, Haller was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

“Of course, you realise it is something really serious that is happening, that a lot of things can change,” Haller told BBC Sport last year.

“But the urologist helped me not to be scared. He said I could heal well. I took all his words for granted.”

Coming back from cancer

It was only in early January 2023 that Haller returned to full training, after two surgeries and various rounds of chemotherapy, making his belated debut later that month.

His goal against Freiburg came, in one of those weird coincidences which the universe has a habit of providing, on World Cancer Day itself.

Fast forward to this January and injury, albeit much milder, was again preventing the former West Ham and Eintracht Frankfurt forward from featuring for the Ivorians as they hosted the delayed 2023 Nations Cup.

After damaging his ankle on 19 December, the 29-year-old was not fit enough to make the squad for the Elephants’ first three games.

But that paved the way for his return as the conquering hero given their calamitous group stage, in which they lost twice, including a heaviest ever home – and Nations Cup finals – defeat when losing 4-0 to Equatorial Guinea.

Ivory Coast sacked coach Jean-Louis Gasset but then squeezed through into the knockout rounds as a best third-placed side.

“After the big defeat against Equatorial Guinea, we had no choice,” Haller said.

“We’ve come back from a long way.

“There were words, moments, which were not easy for the players, staff and everybody [but] which were necessary.”

And, after the team had scored just twice in the group stage, the return of Haller was ever more important.

This, after all, was a man who became the second player after Cristiano Ronaldo to score in all six Champions League group games in 2021-22 for Dutch side Ajax, before eclipsing the Portuguese to became the fastest player to reach 10 Champions League goals in history.

A crucial impact for Elephants

In the hosts’ epic last-16 clash against defending champions Senegal, Haller was thrown on late in normal time, where his physical presence, hold-up skills and direct play proved crucial.

It was his perfectly weighted and probing through ball which found Nicolas Pepe, who was duly upended to allow the Ivorians to score from the spot and take the game into extra time.

Haller then played his part by netting in the shootout, with the Ivorians prevailing 5-4 to knock out the holders.

Against Mali in an equally thrilling quarter-final, Haller was again a substitute – but thrown on at half-time as interim coach Emerse Fae gambled with his team down to 10 men.

The former France youth international almost settled the match in extra-time when heading a perfect Wilfried Singo cross against the bar, but it was Oumar Diakite who netted the dramatic 122nd-minute winner to set up a semi-final meeting against DR Congo.

Before his injury, Haller’s international form – three goals in three games – had been far better than at Dortmund this season, where he has failed to score in 11 league games (despite having rebounded well last season with nine goals in 19).

He seemingly seethed with anger against the Central Africans when wasting a header just before half-time from a glorious delivery from the impressive Singo again.

Celebrations and revenge

But midway through the second period at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, the tall striker found the net with an unorthodox finish.

Haller volleyed a deep cross from Max-Alain Gradel into the ground, over DR Congo keeper Lionel Mpasi and just inches under the bar in a ping-pong style finish, to provide a ‘Haller-lujah’ moment for Elephants fans as the tense deadlock in Abidjan was finally broken.

Cue raucous celebrations and a barely-believable roar once again – this time across an entire country, and not just inside a stadium which had former Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba in attendance.

“It’s certain the public push us in every moment. When the public is there and make noise and push us, that makes the difference,” Haller said.

Born in Paris to a French dad and Ivorian mum, Haller played at every youth level for France – from Under-16 all the way to Under-21 – but in 2020, he pledged his senior international future to his mother’s land.

And she and her nation of 30 million are happy he did as his strike against the Leopards took the Ivorians to the final on home soil for the first time.

Now comes a rematch with Nigeria, 24 days on from when the Super Eagles beat Ivory Coast 1-0 in the group stage.

“It’s a final and you’re there to win it. We’ll analyse everything in order to gain our revenge,” Haller said.

As unrealistic as it may have been after the group stage, the prospect of Haller helping the Elephants to their first Nations Cup title since 2015 is now very palpable.

And for the striker himself, just over a year and a half since his cancer diagnosis, his next game could be his most memorable.

February 11th will witness a final for the ages at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium. When these foes last met in the group stage, Nigeria edged out the hosts 1-0. 

However, with redemption on the line, Cote d’Ivoire will be a different beast. And Nigeria know preventing the Elephants from winning a third AFCON on home soil represents their toughest test.

For Nigerian manager Jose Peseiro, outwitting Cote d’Ivoire boss Emerse Fae will be key. Peseiro’s tactical nous guided Nigeria past South Africa in a penalty shootout thriller on Wednesday’s first semi-final

But Fae’s also showed grit to overcome DR Congo 1-0 in the semi-finals. Much will depend on the battle between Peseiro and fae on the touchline. 

On the pitch, the stars will shine bright under the Abidjan lights. ICote d’Ivoire boasts star players Nicolas Pepe and prolific Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller.

Yet Nigeria have talents like Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and William Troost-Ekong in their ranks. With such pedigree on display, a goal-fest could await.

Whoever prevails, African football is the ultimate winner. This TotalEnergies CAF AFCON reaches a fitting crescendo with two heavyweights fighting for continental glory. 

The only goal of a cagey contest in Abidjan came in the 65th minute when Haller’s volley bounced down into the ground and up over Leopards goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.

The Borussia Dortmund striker should have opened the scoring just before the break with an unmarked header, while he also missed a chance to double the lead when sending a lob narrowly wide.

DR Congo did not look like getting a late equaliser, although Meschack Elia sent a volley wide of the left-hand upright and Simon Banza then fired well over in injury time.

Ivory Coast had sacked Jean-Louis Gasset as boss before scraping through the group stage, and had needed late goals against both Senegal and Mali to progress to the last four.

But interim boss Emerse Fae now has a chance to guide the Elephants to a third continental title, adding to triumphs in 1992 and 2015, when they face three-time winners Nigeria in Abidjan on Sunday (20:00 GMT).

The Super Eagles had reached the final earlier on Wednesday after beating South Africa 4-2 on penalties following a dramatic 1-1 draw in Bouake.

Three-time champions Nigeria face a South Africa side aiming to win their second title – but a first away from home following their 1996 triumph in Johannesburg – in the first last-four tie (17:00 GMT).

Hosts Ivory Coast have never won the title on home soil – triumphing in Senegal in 1992 and Equatorial Guinea in 2015 – but must overcome unbeaten DR Congo (20:00 GMT) if they are to reach Sunday’s final in Abidjan.

“It’s been a top-level Nations Cup – now let’s hope the semi-finals and final finish it off in style,” Tom Saintfiet, who led The Gambia in the group stage, told BBC Sport Africa.

The BBC World Service will provide radio commentary of both semi-finals in Africa.

Elephants keen to march on

Ivory Coast have certainly been on a rollercoaster since kicking off the tournament.

After the deep lows of the group stage, when the Elephants squeezed into the knockout rounds as a best third-placed side, can the hosts maintain the extraordinary highs of their knock-out matches since?

According to midfielder Franck Kessie “a ghost cannot be afraid”, and the near-dead Ivorians have shown unbelievable spirit when scoring late equalisers against Senegal and Mali in the last 16 and quarter-finals respectively.

All three Ivorian goals in the knock-outs have come from substitutes.

“We won’t be this lucky all the time, but it’s important to know that those on the bench can also contribute,” said interim coach Emerse Fae, ahead of the Elephants’ return to the Alassane Ouattara Stadium for the first time since their 4-0 mauling by Equatorial Guinea in their final group game.

“During the last games, the motivation from the fans has helped – we hope they will stay with us.”

Fae will be without suspended quartet Odilon Kossounou and Oumar Diakite, both sent off against Mali – the former after a torrid display, the latter for removing his shirt after his dramatic 122nd-minute winner and captain Serge Aurier and Christian Kouame, who picked up second yellows last time out.

As two-time champions DR Congo contest their second Nations Cup semi-final this century and a first since losing to the Ivorians in 2015, the Leopards hope to wear black armbands for those recently affected by conflict in the nation.

On the pitch, a clear issue is the concession of penalties in both knockout games so far, against Egypt and Guinea, but the Central Africans can point to their own dead-ball prowess after a hat-trick of set-piece goals against Guinea – netting from a corner, penalty and free-kick.

Remarkably, DR Congo had made it all the way to the quarter-finals after drawing their first four games at the tournament, overcoming Egypt 8-7 on penalties in the last 16.

“Our first victory came at the right time because we’re gaining momentum,” said coach Sebastien Desabre, who has moulded this latest generation of Congolese into a compact unit.

“We may have only won once but remember we have not lost yet.”

Brentford forward Yoane Wissa is the leading scorer for the Leopards in Ivory Coast with two goals, while former Newcastle United defender Chancel Mbemba and ex-West Ham left-back Arthur Masuaku have also found the back of the net.

Can Super Eagles keep soaring?

Nigeria face South Africa in Bouake in a repeat of the 2000 Nations Cup semi-final, with the Super Eagles beating Bafana Bafana as the countries met for the first time at the tournament.

The West Africans have the upper hand in meetings at Afcon, winning all three encounters – with the most recent of those a quarter-final tie in 2019.

Playing in a record-extending 15th Afcon semi-final, Nigeria have impressed both in attack and in defence, where they have won their past four games without conceding a goal – their best run at a Nations Cup.

With Frank Onyeka winning over his critics to provide a solid platform in central midfield, the likes of Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon have been liberated – with the latter creating the only goal of the quarter-final against Angola for the former, who has scored half of Nigeria’s six goals.

“We’ve got a lot of faith in our defensive structure and in the final third we’re frightening,” defender Semi Ajayi told BBC Sport Africa.

Coach Jose Peseiro has repeatedly said a clean sheet will guarantee a win for his side given their prowess up front, where reigning African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen has impressed with his non-stop running and pressing despite only scoring once.

Former Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh has praised Osimhen’s ‘leadership and hunger’, with the latter a keyword for a team that – unlike some previous Super Eagles sides – looks fully focused.

Will Broos mastermind upset for Bafana Bafana?

While many expected Nigeria to go far, few thought the same about South Africa who have benefitted from the guile of Hugo Broos, who led Cameroon to their unexpected 2017 triumph.

The oldest coach at the tournament, the 71-year-old has relied on the core of South African club Mamelodi Sundowns to take Bafana Bafana into the last four for the first time in 24 years.

Eight players from the Pretoria-based club that won last year’s inaugural African Football League, while also reaching the African Champions League semi-finals, started their quarter-final against Cape Verde.

“He has taken Sundowns players because he understands those players have experience against different opponents from across the continent – and he realised the synergy and teamwork are important,” former South Africa captain Aaron Mokoena told the BBC.

Broos said their performance against Cape Verde was their worst at the finals so far and, although Bafana Bafana have also achieved four straight clean sheets, he was indebted to captain Ronwen Williams for a crucial last save before keeping out four penalties in the shootout.

In midfield Teboho Mokoena, another Sundowns man, has provided dynamism while Nigeria will need to be wary of experienced forward Themba Zwane who scored twice in the group-stage win against Namibia.

With Broos having fielded an unchanged since the second game, a major concern will be fatigue, with former South Africa midfielder Dean Furman pointing out the “heavy legs” against Cape Verde on Saturday.

In a tournament which has seen a number of fancied sides fall by the wayside, the four teams who now remain are all former champions.

Hosts Ivory Coast, who only just made the knock-out phase, produced a thrilling quarter-final win over Mali to keep their hopes of lifting the trophy on home soil alive.

South Africa’s captain Ronwen Williams was Bafana Bafana’s hero, saving four penalties in a tense shootout against one of this competition’s surprise packages, Cape Verde.

Elsewhere, Nigeria continued to grow into the tournament with a solid win over Angola and DR Congo came from behind to book their place in the last four with a win over Guinea.

Next up come some intriguing semi-final ties, with BBC Two broadcasting the clash between Nigeria and South Africa (Wednesday, 17:00 GMT) and BBC Three showing Ivory Coast against DR Congo (Wednesday 20:00 GMT).

BBC Sport Africa provides you with all the information on the 34th edition of Africa’s biggest sporting event.

What are the semi-final ties?

Nigeria face South Africa in the first last-four tie in Bouake (Friday, 17:00 GMT) with Bafana Bafana boss Hugo Broos saying his team have “nothing to lose” when they take on the Super Eagles.

Nigeria, who will be favourites to reach the final, are looking to win the Nations Cup for a fourth time, having last lifted the trophy in 2013.

The second semi-final pits hosts Ivory Coast against DR Congo in what is expected to be a fervent atmosphere at the Alassane Ouattara stadium in Abidjan (Friday, 20:00 GMT).

DR Congo produced their best performance of the tournament when it mattered most, showing resilience to come from 1-0 down to beat Guinea 3-1 in the last eight.

The Leopards will have to get past an inspired Ivory Coast team who were in danger of leaving their own party early after a woeful group-phase performance.

The host nation sacked manager Jean-Louis Gasset when it looked like they would not qualify for the knockout stages, and interim coach Emerse Fae has since masterminded the Elephants’ wins over holders Senegal and Mali.

Who has impressed – and who hasn’t?

Many bookmakers had Senegal down as favourites to retain the title they won for the first time in Cameroon – and they justified that faith by reaching the last 16 with a 100% record.

However, the Teranga Lions could not get past Ivory Coast despite taking an early lead in their last-16 tie.

Elsewhere, the most impressive performances came from relatively unheralded nations Equatorial Guinea and Cape Verde, both topping groups they were given little chance in.

But the National Thunder fell by the wayside against Guinea, with tournament top scorer Emilio Nsue missing a penalty.

Cape Verde won Group B, astonishingly finishing above Ghana and Egypt, who were robbed of Mohamed Salah through injury in their second game of the competition.

But it was a painful end for the Blue Sharks whose Nations Cup run came crashing down in the quarter-finals with a penalties loss to South Africa.

Angola were surprising winners of Group D, and captain Fredy and forwards Mabululu and Gelson Dala were the stand-out performers.

The Palancas Negras were impressive in their last 16 win over Namibia but found Nigeria’s defence much harder to penetrate and were ousted by the Super Eagles in the quarter-finals.

As for Nigeria, they had eased through to the knock-out stages in solid, if unspectacular, fashion, but have grown into the tournament and have emerged as the team to beat.

Morocco, meanwhile, were expected to be strong challengers following their historic run to the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but the Atlas Lions were upset 2-0 by South Africa in the last 16 and their long wait for a second continental title will stretch closer to half a century.

But some other big names have struggled – not least hosts Ivory Coast, who were left sweating on qualification among the four best third-placed sides after losing two of their three group games.

The Elephants redeemed themselves against Senegal and then Mali, and could yet register a third Nations Cup title.

Cameroon also laboured, squeezing through their group before being sent packing by Nigeria, while fellow former winners Ghana, Algeria and Tunisia each only managed to pick up two points in the group stage.

What happened in the group stage?

The 24 teams were split into six groups of four, with the top two in each group and the four best-ranked third-placed sides advancing to the last 16.

Group A: Equatorial Guinea (Q), Nigeria (Q), Ivory Coast (Q), Guinea-Bissau.

Group B: Cape Verde (Q), Egypt (Q), Ghana, Mozambique.

Group C: Senegal (Q), Cameroon (Q), Guinea (Q), The Gambia.

Group D: Angola (Q), Burkina Faso (Q), Mauritania (Q), Algeria.

Group E: Mali (Q), South Africa (Q), Namibia (Q), Tunisia.

Group F: Morocco (Q), DR Congo (Q), Zambia, Tanzania.

Afcon 2023 schedule and kick-off times

After starting games at 14:00, 17:00 and 20:00 (all times GMT) during the group stages, the latter two kick-off times are being used in the knockout stages.

The quarter-finals were held on 2 and 3 February, with both semi-finals scheduled for Wednesday, 7 February.

The final will be on 11 February in Abidjan – a day after the third-placed play-off.

Africa Cup of Nations 2023 fixtures and results

Saturday 13 January

Group A: Ivory Coast 2-0 Guinea-Bissau, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan

Sunday 14 January

Group A: Nigeria 1-1 Equatorial Guinea, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan

Group B: Egypt 2-2 Mozambique, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

Group B: Ghana 1-2 Cape Verde, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

Monday 15 January

Group C: Senegal 3-0 The Gambia, Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro

Group C: Cameroon 1-1 Guinea, Yamoussoukro

Group D: Algeria 1-1 Angola, Stade de la Paix, Bouake

Tuesday 16 January

Group D: Burkina Faso 1-0 Mauritania, Bouake

Group E: Tunisia 0-1 Namibia, Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo

Group E: Mali 2-0 South Africa, Korhogo

Wednesday 17 January

Group F: Morocco 3-0 Tanzania, Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro

Group F: DR Congo 1-1 Zambia, San Pedro

Thursday 18 January

Group A: Equatorial Guinea 4-2 Guinea-Bissau, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan

Group A: Ivory Coast 0-1 Nigeria, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan

Group B: Egypt 2-2 Ghana, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

Friday 19 January

Group B: Cape Verde 3-0 Mozambique, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

Group C: Senegal 3-1 Cameroon, Yamoussoukro

Group C: Guinea 1-0 The Gambia, Yamoussoukro

Saturday 20 January

Group D: Algeria 2-2 Burkina Faso, Bouake

Group D: Mauritania 2-3 Angola, Bouake

Group E: Tunisia 1-1 Mali, Korhogo

Sunday 21 January

Group E: South Africa 4-0 Namibia, Korhogo

Group F: Morocco 1-1 DR Congo, San Pedro

Group F: Zambia 1-1 Tanzania, San Pedro

Monday 22 January

Group A: Equatorial Guinea 4-0 Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan

Group A: Guinea-Bissau 0-1 Nigeria, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

Group B: Cape Verde 2-2 Egypt, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

Group B: Mozambique 2-2 Ghana, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan

Tuesday 23 January

Group C: The Gambia 2-3 Cameroon, Bouake

Group C: Guinea 0-2 Senegal, Yamoussoukro

Group D: Angola 2-0 Burkina Faso, Yamoussoukro

Group D: Mauritania 1-0 Algeria, Bouake

Wednesday 24 January

Group E: Namibia 0-0 Mali, San Pedro

Group E: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia, Korhogo

Group F: Tanzania 0-0 DR Congo, Korhogo

Group F: Zambia 0-1 Morocco, San Pedro

Africa Cup of Nations second round fixtures

Saturday 27 January

SR1: Angola 3-0 Namibia, Bouake

SR2: Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

Sunday 28 January

SR3: Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Guinea, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan

SR4: Egypt 1-1 DR Congo aet (7-8 pens), San Pedro

Monday 29 January

SR5: Cape Verde 1-0 Mauritania, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

SR6: Senegal 1-1 Ivory Coast aet (4-5 pens) Yamoussoukro

Tuesday 30 January

SR7: Mali 2-1 Burkina Faso, Korhogo

SR8: Morocco 0-2 South Africa, San Pedro

Quarter-finals

Friday 2 February

QF1: Nigeria 1-0 Angola, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

QF2: DR Congo 3-1 Guinea, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan

Saturday 3 February

QF3: Mali 1-2 Ivory Coast aet, Bouake

QF4: Cape Verde 0-0 South Africa aet (1-2 pens), Yamoussoukro

Semi-finals

Wednesday 7 February

SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4, Bouake (17:00, live on BBC Two)

SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan (20:00, live on BBC Three)

Third place play-off

Saturday 10 February

SF1 vs SF2 losers, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan (20:00)

Final

Sunday 11 February

SF1 vs SF2 winners, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan (20:00, live on BBC)

Africa Cup of Nations 2023 top scorers

5: Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea)

4: Gelson Dala (Angola), Mostafa Mohamed (Egypt)

3: Lookman (Nigeria), Mabululu (Angola), Lassine Sinayoko (Mali), Mohamed Bayo (Guinea), Baghdad Bounedjah (Algeria), Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)

Afcon 2023 venues

Twelve years on from the end of a civil war that split the country in two, Ivory Coast is welcoming Africa’s best footballers for the first time since 1984.

Six stadiums are being used in five host cities, with two in Abidjan.

• Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan (capacity 60,000)
• Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan (capacity 33,000)
• Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro (capacity 20,000)
• Stade de la Paix, Bouake (capacity 40,000)
• Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo (capacity 20,000)
• Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro (capacity 20,000)

All of the stadiums are either new or have undergone renovations ahead of Afcon, with the government spending one billion US dollars on infrastructure projects around the country.

Originally scheduled to be held in June-July 2023, the tournament was moved to avoid a clash with the West African rainy season.

The hosts needed a penalty shootout to get past Senegal in their first-round knockout match, while Mali beat Burkina Faso 2-1.

The first half was marked by chaos as Sikou Niakate had a penalty appeal for handball turned down as he was offside, before Odilon Kossouna conceded one for a foul on Lassine Sinayoko, only for Adama Traore to miss.

Just before half-time, Sinayoko brought another desperate foul from the Kossouno, who saw red.

As the weakened side tired, Nene found room to fire in a brilliant strike from 30 yards out to take the lead, but with the game almost over, Simon Adingra prodded home an injury-time equaliser.

With no breakthrough in extra time, the match seemed to be set for penalties before a knockout blow from Oumar Diakite in extra-time added time.

The Elephants were underdogs against the defending champions after two defeats in the group phase.

But the hosts, who only advanced to the last 16 because of other results, stunned the Teranga Lions on penalties.

“We’re definitely not going to get excited,” said Fae. “We are going to savour the win and get back to work.”

The 40-year-old added: “We have come so far. We are going to continue to work on our solidity.

“We need to keep this state of mind which will give us the strength to perhaps go for the title.”

Jean-Louis Gasset started the tournament as Ivory Coast coach but was sacked following a 4-0 thrashing by Equatorial Guinea which was their heaviest-ever home defeat and left their hopes of knockout football hanging by a thread.

Morocco’s win over Zambia ultimately sent them through as one of the four best third-placed teams from the six groups, and Ivory Coast then failed in a bid to re-appoint Herve Renard for the remainder of the campaign.

Fae will now lead the Ivorians when they face Mali in the last eight on Saturday (17:00 GMT) after the Eagles beat Burkina Faso on Tuesday.

‘I didn’t take my nap’

Former Nantes, Reading and Nice midfielder Fae had been Gasset’s assistant but his daunting debut in charge of a first team was a tough challenge which forced him to sacrifice his usual sleep routine.

“I’m not going to lie to myself – it was a very long day,” said the former international.

“I didn’t manage to take my daily nap because I was thinking about all of the scenarios that could happen in the match.

“The pressure is there when it’s a round of 16 match against the holders, who are one of the favourites. But it’s a positive pressure that I ultimately like.”

Fae’s tactical and psychological work with the team during five “difficult” days of preparation paid off.

Franck Kessie levelled from the spot in the 86th minute against Senegal as part of a much-improved display before he then struck the decisive penalty to seal a 5-4 shootout win after Moussa Niakhate missed for the Teranga Lions.

“We devoted the first two days to concentrating on ourselves and regaining a little confidence, a little pep,” said Fae.

“To bring back confidence, you have to rediscover the basics of football. The sessions were intense and the players had to draw from the bottom of their reserves – and that brought its fruits.

“We conceded a goal after four minutes against the best team in Africa at the moment, the reigning champions, and we did not give up.”

Senegal reflect on ‘cruel’ exit

Many observers might have expected a Senegal side who convincingly beat Guinea, Cameroon and The Gambia during the group stage to build on the lead they established through Habib Diallo’s fourth-minute opener in the 1-1 draw.

“In defeat, we keep our dignity,” said manager Aliou Cisse, while striker Sadio Mane congratulated Ivory Coast and called football “cruel”.

“We stopped playing after our goal – that’s the regret,” added Cisse.

“We will see what the future has in store for us. I want to digest this defeat because everyone is disappointed.

“There will surely be discussions with my federation but my future does not matter at the moment. What matters is Senegal.”

Cisse oversaw Senegal’s 2021 Afcon triumph when they beat Egypt on penalties in the final and led them to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup, losing to England but achieving an all-time high world ranking of 18th.

“Maybe it was the atmosphere, the stakes of the match or the pressure,” midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye said of their first Afcon defeat since losing the 2019 final.

“Ivory Coast were hurt and wanted to redeem themselves in front of their public, in front of their country.”