Ivory Coast brought the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations to a dramatic end on Sunday beating Nigeria 2-1 in the final to become champions for the third time.
The Elephants were the story of the competition as they sacked manager Jean-Louis Gasset after a poor group-stage performance and still went on to lift the trophy.
Here, the PA news agency looks at highlights from the latest edition.
Comeback kings Ivory Coast rise from the dead
After a shock 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast looked certain for an early exit. The Ivorian Football Federation sacked French manager Gasset afterwards and brought in former player Emerse Fae. Having scraped through to the knockout rounds, they edged past big favourites and defending champions Senegal on penalties in the round of 16 in Fae’s first game in charge, then beat Mali in extra-time in the quarter-finals and secured a 1-0 victory over DR Congo in the last four. Given the nickname ‘Zombies’, they came back from the dead once again to beat Nigeria 2-1 in the final after going behind, proving you should never write off the Ivory Coast.
APTOPIX Ivory Coast AFCON Soccer
Much change needed for the Black Stars
It was a tournament to forget for Ghana as they failed to make it out of the group stages with just two draws and a defeat. A team that included West Ham star Mohammed Kudus, Crystal Palace veteran Jordan Ayew and Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams struggled to help Ghana make any progress in the competition. Former Brighton manager Chris Hughton was sacked after less than 12 months in charge and the Black Stars have started their search for a new coach before the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June.
South Africa defy the odds
Not many would have predicted South Africa would reach the semi-finals of the tournament and Bafana Bafana certainly caught the eye. Their biggest challenge came when they took on 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco in the round of 16. Goals from Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena sealed a famous 2-0 victory as PSG star Achraf Hakimi missed a penalty late on for the Moroccans.
Ivory Coast AFCON Soccer
New heights for Mauritania
Mauritania qualified for AFCON for the first time in their history in 2018 and heading into this year’s competition they had new hopes of improving on their last performance. The Lions of Chinguetti were still searching for their first win heading into the last group game against Algeria and they pulled it off with a shock 1-0 victory to also send them to their first knockout match against Cape Verde. Mauritania could not pull off another upset against Cape Verde but they sealed their place in AFCON history with an impressive performance.
Rise in viewing figures continues
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed more than two billion people worldwide watched the tournament live on TV. Deals with many broadcasters, including Sky and BBC, have helped boost figures for the competition and CAF president Patrice Motsepe predicts the next tournament’s viewing figures will be even better.
sozcdilrz
1
ugjvjhhvjchd7ygivpclg030dichq30937t8uhg0h0j00jb9hihohohi028u
hizacempuy
1
Hhhh
lebadenpty
0
BOOM 🔥🔥🔥, And The Comeback has been Completed 😂😂😂
[image]
come on man🤣🤣🤣
Vezabkstyz
0
what is the name of this team
Vincepruyz
0
hi there is no longer
hupbemntyz
2
hello
Dacbciotz
2
nice
RhíçhNahgah
1
Proud of Africa
Dreamer1z
2
Nigeria team was a bunch of disgrace
At least they are better than Ghana
Famcdklru
2
Wow
IfeanyiGod
0
He is not good enough for Chelsea, wining the top scorer of serie A, was just a flash in a pan,he can't win it again
Yh, Jackson and broja is far better and complete players than Osimhen💪 Up Chelsea, u won't leave the second half of the table with this mentality I promise you
IfeanyiGod
0
Oh please… l head thesame about Lukaku. They said we create chance and he just needs to score but what happened
Comparing Osimhen to Lukaku now, bro go get something to eat please, I sense you are hungry
Noaacdnst
0
I learned chelsea don’t need to waste 130M on that Oshimen guy
He is not good enough for Chelsea, wining the top scorer of serie A, was just a flash in a pan,he can't win it again
Husceilouz
5
Nigeria team was a bunch of disgrace
yuocdklnsz
0
the coach tactics turned ohsimen into shark in a pond, the guy is a good striker but didn't get enough service in the afcon because our midfield was very poor especially that iwobi boy don't know how he made the team in the first Place
You are damm right. There was a complete disconnect between the striker and the intire team, not just in the final but through the intire tournament. Broken supply line from the striker.
Hanadklnor
0
I learn how to control VAR it is fantastic tournament in my beautiful continent Africa
bluebloods
0
the coach tactics turned ohsimen into shark in a pond, the guy is a good striker but didn't get enough service in the afcon because our midfield was very poor especially that iwobi boy don't know how he made the team in the first Place
Oh please… l head thesame about Lukaku. They said we create chance and he just needs to score but what happened
Fodlnpstz
0
I learned chelsea don’t need to waste 130M on that Oshimen guy
the coach tactics turned ohsimen into shark in a pond, the guy is a good striker but didn't get enough service in the afcon because our midfield was very poor especially that iwobi boy don't know how he made the team in the first Place
bluebloods
2
I learned chelsea don’t need to waste 130M on that Oshimen guy
Kingsgate1234
6
BOOM 🔥🔥🔥, And The Comeback has been Completed 😂😂😂