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The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, delayed to January 2024, was played in the Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11, featuring 24 of the continent's premier men's national teams. The hosts, who had been without a head coach since the group stage, emerged victorious, with a 2-1 win over favourites Nigeria. Standings: Click here Fixtures and scores: Click here Features: Comeback kid Haller showed 'incredible mental strength' at AFCON Ivory Coast's Africa Cup of Nations hero Sebastien Haller was full of self-doubt that he could have a part to play in the Elephants' campaign on home soil, in the run-up to his match-winning display against Nigeria in Sunday's final, according to teammate Seko Fofana. Ivory Coast are kings of AFCON; Nigeria rue Peseiro's decisions Ivory Coast have won the Africa Cup of Nations after a 2-1 victory over Nigeria at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Sunday. Sébastien Haller scored the winning goal for the hosts in the 81st minute with an instinctive finish after excellent work from Simon Adingra on the wing. ESPN analysts Ed Dove and Colin Udoh break down the match from the perspectives of the victorious Les Éléphants and the vanquished Super Eagles. Ivory Coast are on the cusp of a most unexpected AFCON triumph Ivory Coast contest the 34th Africa Cup of Nations final when they welcome Nigeria to the Stade Alassane Ouattara-Ebimpé on the outskirts of Abidjan. This will be the 15th time the hosts have had the opportunity to contest the tournament final, and the first since Egypt defeated Les Elephants to win their fifth crown in Cairo 18 years ago. DR Congo determined to end AFCON on a high in 3rd-place playoff The Africa Cup of Nations third-place playoff between Congo DR and South Africa is much more than a bronze-medal match for the Leopards, who are driven by a desire to bring joy to their conflict-scarred nation. The Leopards have enjoyed a fine campaign in Ivory Coast, but fighting has intensified in Congo's contested eastern region amid a violent incursion by the M23 rebel group. Troost-Ekong's leadership puts Nigeria on brink of AFCON title Skipper William Troost-Ekong and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali have emerged as the heroes for the team, coming to the fore during multiple moments of pressure, and will have to hold their nerve one more time as they face hosts Ivory Coast in the final on Sunday. 5 takeaways from Nigeria's quarterfinal win over Angola Ademola Lookman scored his third goal of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and Moses Simon -- who provided him the assist -- came away with Man of the Match honours as Nigeria sashayed into semifinals on the back of a 1-0 win over Angola. The big interview: William Troost-Ekong's renaissance William Troost-Ekong has made bruising tackles, led the defence and team vocally from the back, and even scored a penalty for Nigeria, emerging as one of the more outstanding players in this squad as they aim a fourth African title. But the veteran defender, who faces Angola in the AFCON quarterfinals on Friday, almost did not make it to this tournament. He actually came very close to not putting on a Nigeria jersey ever again. Can Ivory Coast's redemption arc continue? Only four matches into Ivory Coast's remarkable Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign and it's hard to know which is the most-astonishing element of this unprecedented rollercoaster run on home soil. A case can be made that this team's showing can already be considered among the most confounding performances by any side in a major international tournament, such have been the nature of the twists and turns. Bafana out to show they have truly turned a corner By upsetting favourites Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16, Bafana Bafana gave their fans all over South Africa reason for optimism 28 years after their 1996 AFCON triumph that brought the country together shortly after the dawn of democracy. WTH is a Bafana?! - The wonderful world of African football nicknames With the AFCON in full swing, here's ESPN's guide to the team nicknames on show at the tournament, and some of the patterns and themes to be found among the continent's subplots of sobriquets. AFCON's missing men: What are the absent stars up to? Inevitably, at each Africa Cup of Nations, some of the continent's biggest names are missing for a whole array of reasons. Let's catch up on what some of these absent stars have been doing while the rest have been competing for Africa's grandest prize. Nigeria REALLY need their strikers to turn up soon The attack was supposed to be Nigeria's strongest asset going into the tournament. That has not proven to be the case, even as they advance to last 16. Which teams need to do what to reach the knockouts? The Africa Cup of Nations group stage has been an exciting journey so far, with plenty of goals, several surprise results, and numerous outstanding performances. However, with many of the teams able to take points from each other, and only one side eliminated so far, there's still much at stake as we head into the final round of group games. Nigeria's defence the key in Ivory Coast win Nigeria's Super Eagles proved that they are most dangerous when they have their backs to the wall, securing a 1-0 win over hosts and favourites Ivory Coast on the back of defender William Troost-Ekong's second half penalty kick. AFCON mini review: Are we heading for a shock winner? With every team having played once at the Africa Cup of Nations, ESPN's Ed Dove reviews the big talking points -- and the stuff you might have missed -- from the tournament so far. Nigeria already under pressure as Ivory Coast looms With just one game played, Nigeria's Super Eagles are already up against it. A loss against Ivory Coast on Thursday would seriously jeopardise their chances of progression to the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations. Would any of today's Bafana side make the 1996 AFCON-winning team? ESPN spoke to former South Africa stars Mark Fish, Roger de Sa, and Matthew Booth about the current Bafana Bafana side, and whether any of today's players would have made the 1996 side that won the Africa Cup of Nations. AFCON kit rankings - 18 manufacturers go from boring to bold Will any of this year's kit collections - contributed by 18 different manufacturers -- take their place in the pantheon of all-time great AFCON kits? Nigeria don't look like contenders after opening draw Victor Osimhen saved Nigeria's blushes, but the Super Eagles dropped two valuable points in a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in their opening game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Akwaba! Africa's biggest football stage, is set... Bull will it be a success? The road to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has been relatively smooth, which is not typical for AFCON, but don't expect a steady build-up to the competition to lead to a chilled campaign. All eyes on Osimhen as injury-hit Nigeria face uphill battle Nigeria may have to wrap star striker Victor Osimhen in cotton wool, put him in a bubble, place bodyguards around him during training, and inspect the pitch for anything with the potential to cause injury until they kick off their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations title hunt. Ranking all 24 AFCON teams, from pretenders to contenders The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is upon us, as the continent's top teams collide in the biennial month-long football showpiece in the Ivory Coast. And while this tournament is notoriously difficult to predict, with heavyweights often falling by the wayside early, ESPN has a go at ranking the teams regardless. Nigeria's AFCON title hopes depend on shaky goalkeepers A decade on from when they won their last Africa Cup of Nations title in 2013, Nigeria travel to Côte d'Ivoire with the undisguised ambition of winning their fourth crown, but their always-unstable goalkeeping berth stands in the way. News: Olembe tragedy families invited to AFCON final Osimhen potentially out of AFCON semi against Bafana SA video analyst the 'secret weapon' against Super Eagles Near-naked journalist prompts CAF action The report is a 'joke': Omeruo denies Nigeria camp drama Klopp: Salah will 100% return for AFCON final if needed Coaches sacked! Ghana and Algeria and Ivory Coast and Egypt Senegal coach leaves hospital after health scare Mbemba abused online after Congo draw Salah ruled out of AFCON, at least till semis, with injury Nigeria coach Peseiro 'confused' by Sadiq's rapid recovery GK Onana returns to AFCON: My country comes first Ghana coach Hughton attacked by angry fan Aboubakar injured ahead of Cameroon opener Oxygen fails on team Gambia's flight to Ivory Coast Kudus back in training in AFCON boost for Ghana Onana to miss opening AFCON fixture for PL game Nigeria's Boniface ruled out of AFCON Man United, Cameroon agree late Onana release for AFCON Can Liverpool keep winning when Salah is at AFCON?
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