CAN 2024: Ivory Coast falls to Nigeria in Group A clash

It was the most anticipated match in Group A.  The clash between Ivory Coast and Nigeria should allow the Elephants to measure themselves against an opponent of their caliber. But the outcome of the meeting was ultimately very disappointing for the Ivorian supporters.

The match started with a bang, the Elephants putting direct pressure on the Nigerians who were sometimes messy defensively, but always dangerous in attack with players like Osimhen, Lookman, or Chukwueze capable of dazzling attacks at any time and in search of their first victory of the competition after its draw against Equatorial Guinea (1-1).

In front of the public, in an Alassane Ouattara stadium announced as a sellout by the Confederation of African Football, the Ivorians were first able to impose their rhythm on the Super Eagles by winning the midfield battle without ever succeeding in achieving a few goals. Rare occasions which punctuated here and there a very close match.

Nigeria takes advantage of a penalty

Led by Séko Fofana, already scorers in the opening match and once again in a big evening, Franck Kessié and Ibrahim Sangaré left crumbs for Alex Iwobi and Ogochukwu Onyeka who faced them. At half-time, the two teams returned to the locker room with a goalless draw, the slight domination of the Elephants had not borne fruit.

But from the start of the second period, the match got carried away when, following contact between Ousmane Diomande and Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian striker collapsed in the area. The referee does not whistle but is called by the Var, he finally points to the penalty spot. Under the boos of the entire stadium, Nigerian captain William Troost-Ekong took charge of transforming it without trembling.

Fofana’s omnipresence was not enough

Trailing in a match that they seemed to have mastered, the Elephants will try everything to try to come back to the score. Always under the leadership of an omnipresent Séko Fofana, whether in defense or attack, the Elephants set off to attack Stankey Nwabali's goal pushed by nearly 50,000 people in the stadium.

The returns of Nicolas Pépé, Jonathan Bamba, and Jean-Michael Séri in the 66th minute further increased the pressure on the Nigerian defense. But, just like the Super Eagles, the Elephants have never been able to prove themselves dangerous enough to worry the Nigerians, ready to do anything to defend their meager advantage. Despite numerous attempts at strikes, often a little desperate, Jean-Louis Gasset's men were unable to come back to score.

If the result does not call into question the Elephants' qualification for the eighth, they will have to win against Equatorial Guinea in their last group match. Ivory Coast, now third in the group, thought it would reassure itself to approach its last match calmly, but it will ultimately be necessary to fight until the end to obtain its qualification.