Throughout the tournament, the Ivorians demonstrated resilience, overcoming early challenges and defeating formidable opponents such as Senegal and Mali en route to the final. With their victory, Ivory Coast secured their third AFCON title, reaffirming their prominence in African football.

On Sunday, February 11, the host nation, Cote d’Ivoire, secured a 2-1 victory over Nigeria's Super Eagles, clinching the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy and prolonging Nigeria's eleven-year trophy drought.

The Ivorians, who claimed the $7 million prize money, secured their third title after previous victories in 1992 and 2015. Their dominance was evident in the initial 20 minutes at Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara, as they outplayed their opponents, relentlessly pressing forward and seizing the lead in their opponent's goal-bound area.

The host trio, consisting of Simon Adingra on the left flank, Sebastien Haller, and Evan Ndika, exerted relentless pressure on the Super Eagles' defense. However, despite their efforts, they were unable to capitalize on all of their scoring opportunities.

Despite the host nation's dominance in possession, Nigeria absorbed the pressure and capitalized on set pieces. Their strategy paid off with a well-delivered corner kick, which was headed in by captain William Troost-Ekong in the 30th minute, giving the country an advantage.

The lead bolstered the Super Eagles' confidence, easing the pressure from their opponents momentarily. However, the Ivorians quickly demonstrated their hunger for goals, proving to be relentless in their pursuit. Nigeria managed to maintain their slim one-goal lead until the end of the first half.

The Ivorian side's never-say-die attitude was revealed as they unleashed all their weapons, with Man of the Match Adingra dictating the pace from the right flank. In the 59th minute, a well-placed cross found Frank Kessie, whose light header leveled the score. Their persistence paid off again just two minutes later, as Kessie outjumped Troost-Ekong to nod in another cross from Adingra, igniting hopes of a comeback reminiscent of their victories against Senegal in the round of 16 and Mali in the quarter-final.

Following a flurry of opportunities to extend their lead, the host nation ultimately secured their victory when Haller stretched his leg to tap the ball into the net, sparking wild jubilation among their supporters.

Haller's goal solidified the host nation's claim to their third AFCON title.

The host nation's journey to the final is a testament to their remarkable turnaround from adversity to triumph. They faced a rocky start in the AFCON tournament, prompting the urgent appointment of a new coach, Emerse Fae. Despite the initial setbacks, they managed to progress to the next round as one of the four best losers in the group stage, marking the beginning of their remarkable resurgence.

The host nation's path to the final showcased their resilience and strength, highlighted by their victories in the knockout stages. They overcame defending champions Senegal in a thrilling penalty shootout, winning 5-4 after a 1-1 draw in regular time. Additionally, they secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Mali in the quarter-finals, earning their spot in the semi-finals.

Their journey to the final continued with a 1-0 victory over DR Congo in the semi-final. In the final showdown, they emerged triumphant by defeating Nigeria 2-1, clinching the coveted AFCON title.