The Super Eagles had largely made gentle work of all earlier than them at this yr’s AFCON however have been pressured right into a dramatic penalty shootout by a dogged South Africa facet within the semi-finals.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored the profitable spot-kick to place Nigeria inside touching distance of a fourth continental crown and first since 2013, although 1992 and 2015 champions Ivory Coast have been on fairly the journey themselves over current weeks.
The hosts sacked their supervisor Jean-Louis Gasset after a disastrous 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea that regarded to have ended their marketing campaign on the group stage, however they squeezed via as a finest third-place group earlier than knocking out holders Senegal after which Mali.
Sebastien Haller scored the one objective of the sport as Ivory Coast edged out DR Congo within the second last-four assembly on Wednesday evening.
Here’s every part you have to know in regards to the AFCON ultimate, which is a repeat of the match-up from Group A, when William Troost-Ekong’s penalty settled the sport for Nigeria.
Nigeria vs Ivory Coast is scheduled for an 8pm GMT kick-off on Sunday February 11, 2024.
The Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan will host the ultimate.
TV channel: The ultimate will likely be broadcast reside within the UK on BBC Three, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.
Live stream: The BBC Sport web site, BBC iPlayer and SkyGo app (to subscribers) will provide a reside stream service on-line.
LIVE protection: Follow all the ultimate motion with Standard Sport’s devoted match weblog.
More detailed group news will emerge nearer to the time, as soon as either side have assessed their respective squads following two hard-fought semi-final ties.
Victor Osimhen was handed match to steer Nigeria towards South Africa after stomach discomfort had initially delayed him from travelling with the squad.
William Troost-Ekong scored the winner from the spot when Nigeria met Ivory Coast within the AFCON group stage
AFP by way of Getty Images
Ola Aina, Moses Simon and Calvin Bassey have been all a reserving away from lacking the ultimate, however none of that trio have been cautioned towards South Africa.
As for Ivory Coast, Haller is now again match and firing, together with Brighton’s Simon Adingra.
Serge Aurier, Odilon Kossounou and Oumar Diakite will all be again from suspension for the Elephants, in the meantime.
Nigeria have been as soon as once more not at their finest towards South Africa, considering they'd wrapped up the sport at 2-0 just for the objective to be chalked off and Bafana Bafana to be awarded a penalty for a foul within the build-up that was transformed to pressure additional time.
But they held their nerve thereafter to triumph on penalties and tee up a tantalising conflict with resurgent Ivory Coast within the ultimate.
It’s hardly been classic stuff from them within the knockouts both, however they've their perception again after a rotten loss to Equatorial Guinea and caretaker boss Emerse Fae deserves loads of credit score.
This will possible be a tense and cagey ultimate determined by the odd objective, as was the group contest final month, however it additionally wouldn't be a shock to see it go all the best way to additional time and penalties.
The two sides now have an equivalent head-to-head document following Nigeria’s slim win within the group stage.
Nigeria had beforehand misplaced 4 of their earlier six conferences towards Ivory Coast.
Nigeria to raise trophy: 19/20
Ivory Coach to raise trophy: 10/11
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