Host nation, Ivory Coast have won the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ivory Coast won the tournament after beating Nigeria 2 – 1 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday, February 11.
Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro has admitted the Elephants of Ivory Coast were the better side following Nigeria’s loss in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
Sebastien Haller scored a dramatic late winner as hosts Ivory Coast came from behind to beat Nigeria 2-1 in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final.
Speaking after the match, Peseiro, who was leading Nigeria to its first final since 2013, admitted that the hosts were better on the night.
“Ivory Coast were better than us today,” Peseiro admitted in a post-match interview. “I am sad, my team is sad, but for me they did the maximum, each one. Sometimes you want to do something but you cannot do it.”
AFCON team of the tournament revealed as Osimhen misses out
The Confederation of African Football has named its 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament after Ivory Coast emerged as the Champions of the tournament after beating Nigeria 2-1 in the final.
The body governing football announced the best 11 players from the just-concluded AFCON, with Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen missing from the list.
The Napoli striker scored only one goal against Equatorial Guinea and also added two assists to his name in the games against Cameroon and South Africa.
In the team of the tournament, Nigeria boasts three players; defenders Ola Aina, and William Troost-Ekong and winger, Ademola Lookman.
Meanwhile, Cote d’Ivoire head coach, Emerse Fae, was named as the best manager for his instrumental role in leading Côte d’Ivoire’s remarkable revival during the tournament.
Check out CAF’s team of the tournament below..
Goalkeeper: Ronwem Williams ( South Africa)
Defenders: Ola Aina ( Nigeria )
William Troost-Ekong ( Nigeria)
Chancel Mbemba ( DR Congo)
Ghislain Konan ( Cote d’Ivoire)
Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena ( South Africa)
Jean Michael Seri ( Cote d’Ivoire)
Franck Kessi ( Cote d’Ivoire)
Forwards: Yoane Wissa ( DR Congoo)
Emilio Nsue ( Equatorial Guinea)
Ademola Lookman ( Nigeria )
Super Eagles of Nigeria move 14 places up, now 28th in FIFA ranking after impressive performance at 2023 AFCON
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved 14 places to 28th position on the FIFA ranking according to the latest placements released on Thursday.
This comes after Nigeria’s impressive showing at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. Nigeria settled for the silver medal after losing 2 – 1 to Cote d’Ivoire in the final of the competition.
“Indeed, across the two continents, no fewer than six teams have scaled ten places or more. Amongst the African sides, Côte d’Ivoire (39th, up 10) reap the rewards of their continental triumph on home soil, secured following an eventful tournament campaign,” FIFA wrote on its website while announcing the latest ranking.
“Beaten finalists Nigeria (28th, up 14) make significant strides but are no match for the Angola side they ousted in the last eight (93rd, up 24), who are the biggest climbers in the latest installment of the global ranking.”
The latest move makes the Super Eagles Africa’s number three team in Africa only behind Morocco (who are 12th) and Senegal, who are ranked 17th.
Top 10 African teams;
Morocco – 12
Senegal – 17
Nigeria – 28
Egypt – 36
Ivory Coast – 39
Tunisia – 41
Algeria – 43
Mali – 47
Cameroon – 51
South Africa – 59
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