Key events
Jonathan Wilson’s final preview
Team news
Nigeria are making two changes compared to their semi-final against South Africa. Zaidu Sanusi replaces Bright Samuel at full-back and Samuel Chukwueze comes in for Moses Simon on the right wing.
Ivory Coast is also making two changes. The captain Serge Aurier And Odilon Kossounou Replace Wilfried Singo and Willy Boly in defense.
Nigeria (3-4-3) Nwabali; Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey; Aina, Onyeka, Iwobi, Zaidu; Chukwueze, Osimhen, Lookman.
Substitutes: Uzoho, Yusuf, Musa, Aribo, Samuel, Iheanacho, Simon, Onuachu, Awaziem, Omeruo, Moffi, Nwadike.
Ivory Coast (4-3-3) Y Fofana; Aurier, Kossounou, Ndicka, Konan; Kessie, Seri, S Fofana; Gradel, Haller, Adingra.
Substitutes: Diomande, Singo, Bamba, Krasso, Boga, Diakite, I Sangare, Pepe, Kouame, B Sangare, Diallo, Lazare.
referee Dahane Beida (Mauritius).
preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast in Abidjan. 25 days ago, in the 87th minute of his team’s final group game, Zambia’s Barbra Banda whistled a shot from 25 meters that was dramatically deflected over the crossbar by Moroccan goalkeeper Bono. Had it gone down, Zambia would have qualified as one of the best third-placed teams and hosts Ivory Coast – who had already sacked their coach Jean-Louis Gasset – would have been eliminated in disgrace.
Instead, they made it to the knockout rounds, where they dodged multiple shots against Senegal and Mali before defeating the Democratic Republic of Congo in the semifinals. Now she and her interim coach Emerse Fae are just one game away from a particularly glorious triumph.
During the tournament, Ivory Coast was behind for 194 minutes, including 35 in a group stage defeat against today’s opponents, and was ahead for 115 minutes. Nigeria were 225 minutes ahead and just 2 minutes behind – but they had a massive escape of their own when South Africa’s Khuliso Mudau missed a stoppage-time substitute to win the semi-final.
So whose fate is it anyway? We’re about to find out. Either Nigeria joins Ghana with four titles, behind only Egypt and Cameroon, or Ivory Coast joins Nigeria with three titles.
Begin 8 p.m.
