Nigeria vs Ivory Coast: CAF AFCON 2023 final preview
Al Jazeera
Nigeria manage expectations as they target a fourth AFCON while hosts and comeback kings Ivory Coast seek a third crown.
Who: Nigeria vs Ivory CoastWhat: CAF AFCON 2023 finalWhen: Sunday, February 11, 2024, 20:00 GMTWhere: Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro has sought to play down his side’s tag as favourites for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations crown while talking up his misfiring African footballer of the year Victor Osimhen.
The Super Eagles face the hosts, Ivory Coast, who they beat 1-0 in the group stage in the final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday.
The Elephants were nearly eliminated at the first hurdle having also lost to Equatorial Guinea in the final group-stage match, and parted company with their manager Jean-Louis Gasset while they awaited clarification as to whether they would progress as one of the four best third-placed finishers.
“There is no favourite for the final,” insisted the Portuguese coach. “Each side has a 50 percent chance, but we are determined to win this final.”
Senior Iranian officials deny that Iran held talks with the US
Air Force says plane was carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members, and authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
“If we trust him, we lose.”
The prime minister admits defeat in the high-stakes vote on a justice reform package but vows to keep her seat.
Germany calls the allegations ‘very serious’, as Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban orders probe into alleged ‘wiretapping’.
Iran parliament speaker says US president using idea of talks to ‘escape quagmire in which US and Israel are trapped’.