Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire will compete in the 34th AFCON final this Sunday. The Super Eagles enter the finals undefeated in all of their AFCON games. The hosting Ivory Coast team have managed to turn things around despite a poor start to the competition. They will be keen to grab a third AFCON title this weekend.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Final |
| 🏟️ Venue: | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire |
| 🗓️ Date: | 11 February 2024 |
| ⏰ Time: | 20:00 GMT on Sunday |
The best African betting sites have offered 2.70 (7/4) odds for Nigeria’s victory. The Elephants have slightly higher odds of 2.87 (15/8) to triumph. Nigeria vs Ivory Coast odds for a stalemate is pegged at 2.87 (15/8).
Both teams have met eight times within 24 years before this final. In those matchups, Cote d’Ivoire has secured four victories and one draw. Nigeria has triumphed in three matchups, notably clinching a group-stage victory at the current tournament.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria is one of the most successful football nations on the black continent. They pride themselves as the giant of Africa with impressive football honors and records. Nigeria has participated in 19 AFCON tournaments, reaching the Semi-Finals 16 times – more than any team in the competition’s history. Sunday’s final in Abidjan will mark their 8th appearance in AFCON final after their 2013 success.
Nigeria drew their group opener with Equatorial Guinea before claiming five consecutive victories with four clean sheets on their path to the final. In their semifinal game on Wednesday, they drew South Africa 1-1 in regular time. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali performed excellently well to send his country to the finals. The Chippa United goalkeeper saved two penalties in the shootout.
Nigeria’s defensive duo Calvin Bassey and Ola Aina avoided costly bookings against South Africa and are set to feature at the back on Sunday night. There are no injury concerns or suspensions for the team.
The Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire has won the AFCON title twice, with their last victory dating back to 2015. The host nation, Ivory Coast, has been on a roller coaster of emotions throughout this tournament. They were on the brink of elimination during the group phase but secured their advancement to the knockout stage as the 4th third-placed team across the six groups. From that point, they have not looked back.
Côte d’Ivoire won just one game in Group A before experiencing defeats against Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea. These losses lead to the sack of the head coach, Jean-Louis Gasset. Since he was appointed interim coach, Emerse Fae has been outstanding, securing three victories and leading his team to the final. Sebastien Haller’s lone strike against DR Congo was all they needed to qualify for their 5th final on Sunday at their Capital city.
Odilon Kossounou could make his return for the final after completing his one-match ban. Serge Aurier, Oumar Diakite, and Odilon Koussounou will also return from suspension.
Here are our Nigeria vs Cote d’Ivoire betting tips for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Final:
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Nigeria has displayed defensive solidity, formidable team spirit, and resilience throughout this tournament. This is evident in their unbeaten campaign, with four clean sheets. Peseiro’s team liked to soak pressure and hit teams on the counter with their attacking trident of Osimhen, Lookman, and Moses Simon.
Conversely, Côte d’Ivoire has tasted two defeats in the AFCON, including the 4-0 humiliation from Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria has better defensive stats and slightly edges out their opponents in the number of goals scored. We expect Nigeria to win the title. However, given Nigeria’s troubles in front of goal, the match will likely reach extra time and a penalty shoot-out before lifting the trophy.
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Statistically, African football features fewer goals as many teams adopt defensive strategies. In this tournament, three of the six fixtures in the quarter-finals and semi-finals concluded with fewer than two goals. Nigeria has scored below two goals in three out of their six games despite having stars bet options like Osimhen. Given the significance of this match, we anticipate a low-scoring affair. In the previous two encounters between the two sides, the scoreline ended 1-0. We foresee a similar outcome in Abidjan on Sunday.
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While much of Ivory Coast’s attention will be on containing Africa’s current Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, another player capable of breaching their defense is Ademola Lookman. The 26-year-old has already demonstrated his prowess for the Super Eagles with three goals in this competition. Lookman has been in fine form for Atalanta this season with seven goals. He is a significant attacking threat for Nigeria in this final. Supported by the likes of Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon, Lookman has the potential to make a decisive impact coming from the shade of his partners.
Here are our betting picks for the African Cup of Nations 2023 final:
We expect a very tense and cagey match. However, Nigeria’s solid defense and threat on the counter should help them clinch a fourth AFCON title. You can use our 2023 CAN Final tips to bet on football online and win extra cash by staking on any online bets.
