The Africa Cup of Nations tournament this year was a rollercoaster of emotions. From last-minute game drama to intense penalty shootouts, the action was unrivaled. At the end of the competition, one team managed to weather all odds and win the cup.
Ivory Coast battled Nigeria in the finals and won 2 goals to 1. Most people and analysts thought Nigeria would claim the victory based on their history and squad lineup. However, coach Emerse Fae’s team proved them wrong at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on the 11th of February 2024.
What’s even more surprising is that in three out of their four knockout matches, they managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat to make an astounding comeback from a goal down. This was spearheaded by coach Emerse Fae, who was an assistant to the Frenchman Jean-Louis Gasset before his sacking.
The team manager had the following comments on his side’s performance, “When I think about all we went through, the hard times when we almost out, and the matches where we came back in last minutes, we have created some miracles. But it is also because we kept fighting to the last minute when the odds were against us,”
The team is now poised and in a decent frame to undertake the World Cup qualifiers challenge. Their next fixture is against Gabon on the 3rd of June. Given their prowess, they should capitalize on their momentum and proceed to the World Cup. Additionally, being placed with slightly less able opponents, including Kenya, Seychelles, Burundi, and Gambia, couldn’t hurt their chances.
If you want to get more out of the game, you can check out various crypto betting sites for Zambian players to place wagers on. The Elephants AFCON throne will also witness competition from Morocco demanding them to defend their title.
Fortunately, their formidable coach, Emerse Fae, seems to have cemented his position for now. Initially, he evaded answering any questions regarding his fate as coach till the finals; perhaps he did not wish to jinx it.
However, we do have to give him his flowers, considering he has never coached before. He ensured his squad won a game at home, a sensation feat.
Max-Alain Gradel, a member of the Ivorian team that won the 2015 title, had the following comment, “They all have a special taste, but you have to say that there is nothing more beautiful than winning an AFCON at home; I don’t think we could have dreamed of a better outcome.”
Final Thoughts
Ivory Coast displayed perseverance and determination, a comeback after a humiliating loss against Equatorial Guinea and a goal down in several knockout matches. Against all odds, they managed to beat Nigeria for the cup and proved to be fighters to the very end.
