- 11 Feb 2024 - 23:32(23:32 GMT)
Goodbye for now
That’s it from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ivory Coast went from zero to hero capped beautifully by Haller’s crowning glory.
We hope you’ve enjoyed all our coverage from both the 2023 AFCON and the 2023 Asian Cup, which was won by Qatar on Saturday.
The stories, the highs, the surprises and the outright shocks have been a pleasure to bring to you along the way.
We hope you enjoyed all our build-up and text commentaries from the games too.
We’ve already brought you Manchester United’s win against Aston Villa and we will be back with our regular club coverage continuing with Manchester City against Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Please do join us for that one if you can and keep an eye out for all our live coverage.
For now though, congratulations to Ivory Coast and goodbye from me Kevin Hand and the rest of the team.
🏆 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑴𝑷𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺 🏆
🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire are crowned African Champions for the third time in their history! 🥇#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/Y2xx7l1JAb
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
- 11 Feb 2024 - 23:14(23:14 GMT)
A thought for the Nigerians
Nigeria were increasingly looking like the most formidable team at the 2023 AFCON tournament.
As so many other pre-tournament favourites fell by the wayside, the Super Eagles were becoming the team tipped to claim the trophy.
Only one goal all tournament for Osimhen will be part of the inquest – was he given enough supply?
At the other end, it was a five-man defence. Should Nigeria have been more adventurous? We can only speculate now.
Maybe it's the end of the competition, but not the end of the story! 🧤
Heads up, Nwabali. 👏#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023Final pic.twitter.com/lNA1NfYeQe
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
- 11 Feb 2024 - 23:02(23:02 GMT)
Didier Drogba joins the celebrations
![Karim Konate [right] with Didier Drogba](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-02-11T220923Z_1133784322_UP1EK2B1PJKV3_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-NATIONS-NGA-CIV-REPORT-1707692844.jpg?resize=770%2C551&quality=80)
Former Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba celebrates with Karim Konate after the match [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters] 
Drogba has been a key figure from the bid for the tournament all the way to the victory in the final for the Elephants [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters] 
Drogba was a key focus for the cameras in the stands throughout the tournament to watch his reactions [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters] Advertisement - 11 Feb 2024 - 23:00(23:00 GMT)
Another Ivory Coast award
Adingra wins not only the Player of the Final award but also the tournament’s Best Young Player award.
Watch out for Simon Adingra, Africa! 💎
Côte d'Ivoire's sensational talent is the Best Young Player of #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023! 👏🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/nh8FqPuSvX
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
- 11 Feb 2024 - 22:54(22:54 GMT)
The Elephants are crowned
The Ivory Coast president was handed the trophy by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who made his way from the Asian Cup final on Saturday, and CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
Now the players are all holding the trophy as one as the party begins.
𝗢𝗻𝗲. 𝗧𝘄𝗼. 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲. 𝗚𝗢! 🏆
That’s how you lift the most precious trophy! 🥇🇨🇮#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/dI6JUjs322
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
- 11 Feb 2024 - 22:52(22:52 GMT)
And now the trophy is lifted
Gradel is handed the award by Alassane Ouattara and the trophy is lifted.
Ivory Coast’s Max Gradel lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Africa Cup of Nations [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters] - 11 Feb 2024 - 22:49(22:49 GMT)
Emerse Fae wins the Best Coach award
Another remarkable AFCON 2023 story:
The man who won it all! 🏆
The #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 Best Coach award goes to Côte d’Ivoire's leader Emerse Faé 🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/WmjiEeHRdI
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
- 11 Feb 2024 - 22:47(22:47 GMT)
And now for the Elephants’s march
Nigeria give Ivory Coast a guard of honour as they make their way to the stage to receive their medals.
- 11 Feb 2024 - 22:44(22:44 GMT)
Nigeria step up to receive their runners-up medals
The Super Eagles have lost five of eight AFCON finals now.
Only Ghana have lost as many as Nigeria.
Advertisement - 11 Feb 2024 - 22:43(22:43 GMT)
South Africa step to receive the bronze medals
Bafana Bafana defeated DR Congo on Saturday to claim the third spot.
- 11 Feb 2024 - 22:38(22:38 GMT)
Troost-Ekong wins Player of the Tournament
The Nigeria captain wins the Player of the Tournament award.
The 30-year-old scored the opening goal in the final with a header, having previously scored two from the spot earlier in the tournament.
He also helped his side to four shutouts.
🌟 William Ekong 🌟
Ladies & gentlemen, we present you the TotalEnergies 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! 🇳🇬
Incredible run with his nation concludes with the silver medal! 🥈 #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/c6qyxP6Em1
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
- 11 Feb 2024 - 22:37(22:37 GMT)
South Africa win the Fair Play trophy
Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams steps up to receive the trophy.
- 11 Feb 2024 - 22:37(22:37 GMT)
Emilio Nsue wins the Golden Boot
The Equatorial Guinea striker steps up to collect the Golden Boot award.
🇬🇶 Emilio Nsue is officially the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 Puma Golden Boot winner! ⚽
5️⃣ goals in 4️⃣ games for the Equatorial Guinea captain! @pumafootball pic.twitter.com/Wsu77Yp8Nd
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
- 11 Feb 2024 - 22:36(22:36 GMT)
Ronwen Williams wins the Golden Glove
The South Africa captain is named the goalkeeper of the tournament.
A savior for South Africa when needed 🧤
Ronwen Williams deservedly wins Ecobank Best Goalkeeper with a remarkable presence in #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 🇿🇦@GroupEcobank pic.twitter.com/UAqmvRjZ5V
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
- 11 Feb 2024 - 22:34(22:34 GMT)
The CAF flag is handed to Morocco
The North African nation will host the 2025 AFCON next year and the Confederation of Africa Football flag is passed between dignitaries from the two federations onstage.
- 11 Feb 2024 - 22:32(22:32 GMT)
The Ivory Coast president joins the celebrations
Alassane Ouattara joins the celebrations with the players in the stadium that holds his name.
He wears an orange cap along with his orange shirt and is fully among the players ahead of the trophy presentation.
- 11 Feb 2024 - 22:24(22:24 GMT)
Emmanuel Adebayor brings out the trophy
The former Togo and Arsenal striker is the man to bring the trophy from the tunnel to the stage.
Advertisement - 11 Feb 2024 - 22:21(22:21 GMT)
Adingra is player of the final
He grew into this tournament as a fan favourite and probably not only for his fans but of all – other than his opponents.
🇨🇮 Simon Adingra 🇨🇮
A final masterpiece by him to be the TotalEnergies Man of the Match! 🤩#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023Final | #NGRCIV | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/mp8JOKl0uQ
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
- 11 Feb 2024 - 22:19(22:19 GMT)
Joy for Ivory Coast
Simon Adingra [Sunday Alamba/AP] 
Ivory Coast players celebrate their win [Sunday Alamba/AP] 
Oumar Diakite [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters] 
Didier Drogba celebrates after the match [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters] 
Seko Fofana [Themba Hadebe/AP] 
Seko Fofana [Themba Hadebe/AP] 
Ivory Coast players celebrate their win [Sunday Alamba/AP] - 11 Feb 2024 - 22:19(22:19 GMT)
The greatest football story ever told
All of the upsets, all of the stories, Ivory Coast fall and rise and Haller’s moment of glory cherished by a worldwide audience.
This AFCON had it all.
Has a tournament ever delivered on a level like this?
𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗗 ⁉️#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023Final pic.twitter.com/V0ZGjKwXLy
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
Nigeria vs Ivory Coast 1-2: CAF AFCON 2023 final – as it happened
All our updates as hosts Ivory Coast beat favourites Nigeria 2-1 in the 2023 AFCON final in Abidjan.
Published On 11 Feb 2024
This page is now closed. Thank you for joining us. These were the updates as hosts Ivory Coast beat Nigeria 2-1 in the AFCON 2023 final on Sunday, February 11:
- Hosts Ivory Coast beat favourites Nigeria 2-1 in the final of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.
- The Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong headed his side into a half-time lead but Franck Kessie levelled with a header before Sebastian Haller poked home the winner.
- The Elephants recovered from two defeats at the group stage, which saw their manager depart before the knock-out rounds, to claim a third AFCON title.
- Ivory Coast beat DR Congo 1-0 in the semifinal thanks to Haller, who was starting his first game of the tournament.
- Nigeria needed penalties to beat South Africa, following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
- The Super Eagles striker and Africa Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen ends the tournament with only one goal.