Hosts Ivory Coast secured their third Africa Cup of Nations title after rallying from behind to defeat to Nigeria 2-1 in the final on Sunday night.
2023 Africa Cup of Nations
Result: Nigeria 1-2 Cote d'Ivoire
Date: 11 February 2024
Venue: Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara
The Super Eagles made two changes to the side that beat South Africa on penalties in the semi-finals, as Samuel Chukwueze and Zaidu were brought in.
Ivory Coast, meanwhile, had three alterations after they defeated Democratic Republic of Congo in the semi-finals, all in defence as Ghislain Konan, Serge Aurier and Odilon Kossounou were all recalled.
The game was physical in the early exchanges, with both sides not allowing each other time and space to settle into any sort of rhythm.
However, the Elephants soon gained momentum as midway through the first stanza Max Gradel broke through in the box, but fired his shot over the crossbar.
Ivory Coast's pressure nearly paid off ten minutes before the interval after Simon Adingra went through in the box, but his shot was brilliantly saved by shot-stopper Stanley Nwabali.
However, Emerse Fae's side were punished from a set-piece seven minutes before the break after William Troost-Ekong powered home a header from a corner.
Cote d'Ivoire started the second stanza strongly and just on the hour-mark, Kossounou came close to getting the equaliser with a powerful drive that was saved by Nwabali in the bottom corner.
However, Franck Kessie eventually levelled matters for the Elephants just a minute later with a header from a corner.
Fae showed his attacking intentions with 20 minutes to go, as he brought on Oumar Diakite in place of Gradel to put pressure on Nigeria.
Sebastien Haller eventually gave the host nation the lead nine minutes before time with a strike into the top corner after a lofted pass by Simon Adingra.
The Super Eagles could not get momentum in the dying minutes as Ivory Coast knew how to run down the clock and held on to a narrow win that saw them being crowned champions for the third time in their history.
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