AFCON Final: Nigeria vs Ivory Coast live updates, highlights, commentary, Line-ups

Nigeria, meanwhile, had their own nine lives to burn through, securing a nervy 1-0 win against Angola in the quarters before a truly bonkers semifinal match against South Africa saw them one missed opportunity away from elimination. Yet staring an early exit in the face, the Super Eagles managed to hunker down and advance following a penalty shootout as goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made his latest case for the Golden Glove award.

Now, as two has-been African powerhouses clash, redemption is on the line as one nation will emerge with a solid foundation for a rebuild back to their former glory, while the other will fall short of the necessary silverware to claim they are indeed back amongst the continent’s upper football echelon.

The Sporting News is following the AFCON final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

AFCON final: Nigeria vs Ivory Coast live score

Score Goal scorers

Nigeria — —

Ivory Coast — —

Starting lineups:

Nigeria (3-4-3, right to left): 23. Nwabili (GK) — 6. Ajayi, 5. Troost-Ekong, 21. Bassey — 3. Sanusi, 8. Onyeka, 17. Iwobi, 2. Aina — 11. Chukwueze, 9. Osimhen, 18. Lookman.

Ivory Coast (4-3-3, predicted): Y. Fofana (GK) — Singo, Boly, N’Dicka, Konan — Kessie, Seri, Fofana — Gradel, Haller, Adingra.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: Nigeria have continued their habit of releasing their starting lineup earlier than required. There are two changes to the starting XI from head coach Jose Peseiro, as he brings Zaidu Sanusi back from injury into midfield, while Samuel Chukwueze replaces Moses Simon on the wing.

1 hour 45 mins to kick: Ivory Coast, hosts of this year’s AFCON tournament, were dead in the water. An embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in their final group stage match all but sealed their fate, unlikely to advance as a third-place finisher with just three points and a poor goal differential.

It led to the dismissal of head coach Jean-Louis Gasset, with the axe dropping before their exit was even officially confirmed.

Then, the unthinkable happened. Somehow, the hosts found themselves through to the knockout stage as the final third-place qualifier. Now, just 20 days after all 60,000 fans at Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium stood in stunned silence, the home crowd at that very same venue will again be at full voice as their beloved Elephants play for the title. Never, ever, give the hosts new life.