It’s time for the big one at the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday night, as heavyweights Nigeria go up against hosts Cote d’Ivoire.
Both have had a hair-raising run to the showpiece in what has been a thrilling Afcon tournament.
And now it’s time for one to make history, getting their hands on the trophy until the next edition in Morocco in 2025.
Afcon Final prediction and fixture for 11 February
*All kick off times are in Central Africa Time.
| Result prediction | Nigeria to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Nigeria / Nigeria to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | A. Lookman(Nigeria) |
Nigeria vs Cote d’Ivoire – 22.00
An amazing final between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire awaits football fans around the world on Sunday night, as the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations reaches its climax in Abidjan.
The 24 starting Afcon nations have been whittled down to two over the last month of thrilling action.
Nigeria are well on course to lift the trophy for the fourth time, having put together an impressive run throughout the tournament.
But they nearly came a cropper in a dramatic semi-final, as South Africa pushed them all the way until Kelechi Iheanacho stepped up to become the penalty shootout hero.
The Super Eagles had earlier taken a second half lead from 12 yards thanks to captain William Troost-Ekong, only to be pegged back in bizarre circumstances when Victor Osimhen’s late goal was ruled out.
And that’s not the half of it.
VAR intervened to pull play all the way back for a penalty against the Nigerians, which was slotted past South Africa-based keeper Stanley Nwabali to force extra time and the spot kick drama.
Ademola Lookman had previously edged his nation through a tough quarter-final tie with Angola, while the English-born forward notched a brace in a Round of 16 breeze past the limp challenge of five-time Afcon winners Cameroon.
Cote d’Ivoire have had one of the most astonishing tournament runs of all time.
Their semi-final victory over DR Congo is arguably the most straightforward aspect of the last month for the host nation, with Sebastien Haller’s strike bouncing over Leopards goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
Everything else? A complete blur for the Elephants.
Oumar Diakite burgled that last four place with the last kick of extra time in a helter-skelter quarter-final at the expense of Mali, who had already watched on in horror as Simon Adingra equalized in the dying seconds of normal time.
It’s a relief to Diakite especially that his side has gone all the way, after he served a one-match ban in the semis having picked up a second yellow card for ripping off his shirt in celebration.
What Jean-Louis Gasset must be thinking about all this, meanwhile, is anyone’s guess.
The coach suffered the ignominy of being sacked before the group stage was even over, with the men in orange on the brink of a disastrous exit at the first hurdle following a 4-0 reverse to Equatorial Guinea.
An aborted attempt to bring Afcon legend Herve Renard into the hotseat later, the Ivorians even turned on the fireworks in the Round of 16 – dumping Sadio Mane and his reigning Senegalese champions out of the competition on penalties.
How much more Cup of Nations drama can there possibly be? We’re about to find out.