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Ivory Coast also make two changes. The captain Serge Aurier and Odilon Kossounou replace Wilfried Singo and Willy Boly in defence.
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Nigeria (3-4-3) Nwabali; Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey; Aina, Onyeka, Iwobi, Zaidu; Chukwueze, Osimhen, Lookman.
Substitutes: Uzoho, Yusuf, Musa, Aribo, Samuel, Iheanacho, Simon, Onuachu, Awaziem, Omeruo, Moffi, Nwadike.
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Ivory Coast (4-3-3) Y Fofana; Aurier, Kossounou, Ndicka, Konan; Kessie, Seri, S Fofana; Gradel, Haller, Adingra.
Substitutes: Diomande, Singo, Bamba, Krasso, Boga, Diakite, I Sangare, Pepe, Kouame, B Sangare, Diallo, Lazare.
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Referee Dahane Beida (Mauritius).
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Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast in Abidjan. Twenty-five days ago, in the 87th minute of his side’s final group game, Zambia’s Barbra Banda whistled a rising drive from 25 yards that was dramatically tipped over the bar by the Morocco keeper Bono. Had it gone in, Zambia would have qualified as one of the best third-placed teams and the hosts Ivory Coast – who had already sacked their manager Jean-Louis Gasset – would have gone out in disgrace.
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Instead they sneaked through to the knockout stages, where they dodged several bullets against Senegal and Mali before beating DR Congo in the semi-finals. Now they, and their caretaker manager Emerse Fae, are one game away from a peculiarly glorious triumph.
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During the tournament Ivory Coast have been behind for 194 minutes, including 35 in a group-stage defeat to tonight’s opponents, and ahead for 115. Nigeria have been ahead for 225 and behind for only 2 – but they had an almighty escape of their own when South Africa’s Khuliso Mudau missed an injury-time sitter to win the semi-final.
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So, whose destiny is it anyway? We’re about to find out. Either Nigeria will join Ghana on four titles, behind only Egypt and Cameroon, or Ivory Coast will join Nigeria on three.
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Kick off 8pm.
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important events
Jonathan Wilson final preview
team news
Nigeria made two changes from their semi-final match against South Africa. Zaidu Sanusi He was appointed as wing-back in place of Bright Samuel. Samuel Chukwueze He replaces Moses Simon on the right wing.
Ivory Coast will also make two changes.captain Serge Aurier and Odilon Kossounow He replaces Wilfried Shingo and Willy Boly in defense.
Nigeria (3-4-3) Nuwabari; Ajayi, Troost Ekon, Bassey; Aina, Onyeka, Iwobi, Zaidu. Chukwueze, Osimhen, Lookman.
Substitutes: Uzoho, Yusuf, Musa, Aribo, Samuel, Iheanacho, Simon, Onuachu, Awaziem, Omeruo, Moffi, Nwadike.
Ivory Coast (4-3-3) Y. Fofana; Aurie, Kosounou, Ndicka, Konan. Kessie, Seri, and S. Fofana. Gradel, Haller, Adingra.
Subs: Diomande, Shingo, Bamba, Crasso, Boga, Diakité, I. Sangaré, Pepe, Kouame, B. Sangaré, Diallo, Lazare.
referee Dahane Beida (Mauritius).
preamble
Hello. Welcome to the live coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast in Abidjan. Twenty-five days ago, in the 87th minute of the teams’ final group match, Zambia’s Barbra Banda whistled a rising drive from 25 yards that was dramatically flicked over the bar by Moroccan keeper Bono. Had that happened, Zambia would have qualified for one of the best teams in third place, while hosts Ivory Coast, who had already sacked coach Jean-Louis Gasset, would have been ignominiously eliminated. It would have been.
Instead, they made it to the finals, dodging several bullets from Senegal and Mali and defeating the Democratic Republic of Congo in the semi-finals. Now they and their interim manager Emmers Fae are one game away from a singular and glorious victory.
Throughout the tournament, Ivory Coast has trailed for 194 minutes and led 115 minutes, including 35 points in a group stage loss against tonight’s opponent. Nigeria led with 225 points, trailing by just two points, but they showed an all-powerful escape on their own. When South Africa’s Chryso Mdau missed a stoppage-time sitter in the semi-finals to win.
Now, whose fate is this? We’ll find out soon. Nigeria will be tied with Ghana with four titles, behind Egypt and Cameroon, or Ivory Coast will be tied with Nigeria with three titles.
kick off 8pm.
