The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has drawn to a thrilling close, leaving behind a trail of unforgettable moments and remarkable performances. The tournament showcased the finest talents from across the continent as Ivory Coast clinched the title with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the final showdown. Amidst the celebrations, it’s time to reflect on the standout performers, the most memorable goals, and the emerging stars who captured hearts and headlines throughout the competition. Join us as we delve into the AFCON round-up, honouring the best player, best goal, and breakthrough talent that defined this captivating tournament.
Best Player: William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)
William Troost-Ekong, serving as the Super Eagles’ stand-in captain as Ahmed Musa recovers from injury, has been honoured as the Best Player of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations by the Confederation of African Football. Despite Nigeria’s loss in the final against hosts Cote d’Ivoire, with a 2-1 defeat, Troost-Ekong’s stellar performances throughout the tournament earned him this prestigious accolade. The 30-year-old defender’s remarkable contributions did not go unnoticed, leading to him being awarded the title of best player. Troost-Ekong demonstrated his prowess by scoring three crucial goals during the 34th edition of the continental championship, including Nigeria’s sole goal in the tense encounter against the Elephants. Troost-Ekong currently plies his trade for PAOK in the Greek Super League, but many fans may remember him from his three-year stint with Watford in the Premier League.
Best Goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
In addition to his remarkable feat of saving six penalties across two shootouts during the knockout stages, the South African Williams showcased exceptional performance throughout the tournament. The Bafana skipper demonstrated his prowess by making crucial saves during open play, further highlighting his leadership qualities and the depth of his goalkeeping skills. He only conceded three goals across the whole tournament and kept an impressive four clean sheets.
Best Goal: Kevin Pina (Cape Verde v Mozambique)
This was a beauty. For the third goal of a 3-0 win, Pina controlled the ball on the right side of the pitch, took one touch, and absolutely thundered the ball into the far left upper corner. The ball swerved and dipped before caressing the back of the net. Sumptuous.
Best Game: Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast – Final
This was a special game. Nigeria and Ivory Coast are two African powerhouses and their clash in the final was one for the ages.
Sebastien Haller emerged as the hero once again for Ivory Coast, leading the Elephants to a thrilling come-from-behind victory against Nigeria in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final on their home turf. The striker, who had previously scored the semi-final winner just 13 months after returning from testicular cancer, sealed the triumph with a deft flick of Simon Adingra’s cross into the net, igniting jubilant celebrations throughout Abidjan.
The match began with player of the tournament William Troost-Ekong putting Nigeria ahead seven minutes before halftime, rising highest to powerfully head in from a corner. However, Franck Kessie equalized for Ivory Coast in the 62nd minute with a header at the back post from Adingra’s corner delivery.
The Ivory Coast’s route to the final was nothing short of remarkable. A routine 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau seemed to reveal the Elephant’s winning objectives. Yet, they then lost to Nigeria, in a precursor to the final, and then were demolished by Equatorial Guinea, seemingly ending their AFCON run in the group stage. Following this disastrous 4-0 defeat, Ivory Coast took the decisive step of sacking their manager, Jean-Louis Gasset, and replacing him with Emerse Fae, an assistant coach. However, they managed to progress as one of the best third-place teams. Later, they ousted the defending champions Senegal on penalties and later eliminated Mali to reach the semi-finals. Fringing past the Democratic Republic of Congo, they reached the final, hosted in their own country in which they edged past Nigeria to take the biggest prize of the tournament. Inspiring. The magic of the Africa Cup of Nations!
Surprise Team: DR Congo
Currently ranked 67th in the world, DR Congo exceeded all expectations by reaching the semi-finals before losing to eventual winners Ivory Coast. They knocked out Mohamed Salah’s Egypt before dispatching Guinea in the quarter-finals. More than ever, it was important that the DR Congo had a good tournament.
As M23 rebels and Islamist groups persist in their attacks on civilian targets in the eastern part of the country, Sébastien Desabre, the head coach of the Democratic Republic of Congo, emphasised the team’s responsibility to bring joy and hope to their people. In a gesture aimed at raising awareness of the ongoing crisis, the players made a symbolic gesture during the anthems, forming their fingers into a gun shape and placing it against their heads, while covering their mouths with their other hand. This act served as a poignant reminder of the dire situation faced by many in the region, where lives are being lost amidst a lack of public attention and discourse.
Biggest Disappointment: Algeria
With seasoned stars such as Riyad Mahrez, Houssem Aouar, and Islam Slimani, there were great expectations of Algeria. Yet two drab draws and a loss to Mauritania ranked 105th in the world, saw Algeria come 4th in their group and crash out at the earliest possible opportunity. Not quite what the 2019 Champions would’ve been hoping for….