Nigeria vs Ivory Coast – LIVE!
Two of the continent’s big-hitters face off tonight as Nigeria take on Ivory Coast in a heavyweight Africa Cup of Nations final. Both have tasted AFCON success relatively recently, with the Super Eagles lifting the trophy in 2013 and Ivory Coast winning the tournament two years later.
It is Nigeria who go into the final as slight favourites, though they were pushed all the way in the semi-finals by South Africa. That match went to penalties, adding some stress to what has been a relatively routine run to the latter stages of the tournament. Victor Osimhen is fit to lead the line once again, while Samuel Chukwueze comes into the side in a surprise selection decision.
There has been far more drama in the Ivory Coast camp, with the hosts sacking their manager after a shambolic group-stage showing. Emerse Fae is now in charge of the Elephants, and he has seen his side edge past Senegal, Mali and then DR Congo on their way to the final. Serge Aurier is among those who return from suspension. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below!
Nigeria vs Ivory Coast latest news
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Kick-off: 8pm GMT, Alassane Ouattara Stadium
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How to watch: BBC Three, Sky Sports Main Event
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Nigeria team news: Sanusi fit to start
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Ivory Coast team news: Kossounou and Aurier return from suspension
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Standard Sport prediction: Nigeria to win
Ivory Coast to deliver in front of home fans?
19:34 , Matt Verri
Egypt in 2006 were the last team to lift the AFCON trophy on home soil.
Incredible that Ivory Coast have the chance to do so tonight, considering the mood in the country after that 4-0 group-stage defeat to Equatorial Guinea.
Reminder, the Elephants sneaked three as the worst of the third-placed teams to progress.
How Nigeria have reached the final
19:28 , Matt Verri
Unlike Ivory Coast’s run to the final, it hasn’t really been a chaotic few weeks for Nigeria.
They finished second in their group, setting up a tricky last-16 tie against Cameroon.
The Super Eagles eased through that, and then beat Angola 1-0 to book their place in the semi-finals.
South Africa pushed them all the way, but Nigeria held their nerve on penalties to get the job done and keep their AFCON dreams alive.
And so are the hosts…
19:22 , Matt Verri
Bit more of a muted arrival from Ivory Coast.
The stadium is already packed, with just under 40 minutes to go until kick-off. Fair to say this is a night that will define the careers of the Ivory Coast squad.
No pressure…
In the building!
19:14 , Matt Verri
Nigeria have arrived at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
Victor Osimhen hanging back, away from the singing and dancing at the front of the group.
Returning stars for both sides
19:09 , Matt Verri
Sanusi is fit for Nigeria and he starts tonight on that left wing.
Iwobi and Onyeka in midfield, Osimhen leads the line, and it’s Chukwueze who comes into the side to start. Simon drops to the bench.
For Ivory Coast, Kossounou and Aurier are straight back in the team after suspension.
Gradel gets the nod to start in the front three, alongside Adingra and Haller.
Ivory Coast team news
19:05 , Matt Verri
Starting XI: Y. Fofana, Aurier, Kossounou, Ndicka, Konan, Seri, Kessie, S. Fofana, Gradel, Adingra, Haller
Subs: Amani, Bamba, Boga, Diakite, Diallo, Diomande, Kouame, Krasso, Pepe, Sangare, Sangare, Singo
Nigeria team news
19:02 , Matt Verri
Starting XI: Nwabali, Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Aina, Onyeka, Iwobi, Sanusi, Chukwueze, Lookman, Osimhen
Subs: Aribo, Awaziem, Iheanacho, Moffi, Musa, Omeruo, Onuachu, Onyedika, Osayi-Samuel, Simon, Uzoho, Yusuf
Osimhen ‘completely unselfish’ for Super Eagles
18:55 , Matt Verri
Victor Osimhen is fit for Nigeria and expected to lead the line tonight.
He has scored only once in the tournament, in the Super Eagles’ opener against Equatorial Guinea, though he did have one disallowed in the last-four win over South Africa.
Despite the lack of goals, Jose Peseiro is still happy with his main man.
“He doesn’t play like he is the star,” the Nigeria boss said. “He fights for the team and is completely unselfish.
“He knows he is an important player and he gives us the best energy. He has suffered a lot in this tournament with all the attention he receives from the opposing defenders because he knows it is a team game.”
How Ivory Coast reached the final
18:48 , Matt Verri
It’s been a wild ride!
An opening win over Guinea-Bissau got the hosts off to a good start, but Ivory Coast followed that with a defeat to Nigeria and they were then beaten 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea.
Jean-Louis Gasset was sacked – but the Elephants made it through to the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams.
They then beat defending champions Senegal on penalties, before a 122nd-minute winner saw Ivory Coast past Mali in the quarter-finals.
A 1-0 win over DR Congo was relatively boring in comparison, but it booked a place in the AFCON final.
Jose backing Jose!
18:40 , Matt Verri
Jose Mourinho is firmly in the Nigeria camp tonight.
He is close friends with Super Eagles boss Jose Peseiro, so no surprise that Mourinho is hoping for a Nigeria win!
Sanusi pushing to be involved
18:31 , Matt Verri
Nigeria are set to make a late decision on Zaidu Sanusi’s fitness.
The left-back missed the Super Eagles’ semi-final victory over South Africa with a hamstring injury but is potentially in contention to feature tonight.
Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro told reporters: “He was partially involved in Friday training and we will check his condition again tonight before we make a decision.”
Having switched to a 3-4-3 formation midway through the group stage, Nigeria have only conceded two goals all tournament.
Sanusi had been an ever-present until the semi-final, when he was replaced by Bright Osayi-Samuel as Ola Aina switched to the left flank.
Nervy night ahead?
18:23 , Matt Verri
AFCON finals haven’t always been full of action.
Two years ago, Senegal beat Egypt at the end of 120 goalless minutes. In 2019, it was Algeria who lifted the trophy, edging out Senegal with a 1-0 win.
Since 2004, only one AFCON final has had more than a single goal.
It could be a long night – settle in!
Fae: Both sides evenly matched
18:15 , Matt Verri
Ivory Coast interim coach Emerse Fae was keen to state that Nigeria do not have a psychological edge over his side, despite victory in the group-stage when the two sides met.
Fae is confident that there is very little between the two nations, despite the Super Eagles being favourites.
“The fact that Nigeria had beaten us is a good thing because we know whom we are up against,” Fae insisted.
““The manner in which we prepare for the match with our players is critical. I think that the Super Eagles and ourselves are at the same level.”
“We have a great opportunity, we are 90 minutes away from adding a third star to the Ivorian jersey. The teams are on equal footing, psychologically. As the competition has progressed, the Nigerian team has gained strength.
“We had a very difficult journey at the beginning, but we gained momentum from the round of 16 against Senegal.”
Stage is set!
18:07 , Matt Verri
All eyes on Abidjan tonight…
Peseiro: Nigeria ready for hostile crowd
17:59 , Matt Verri
Hosts Ivory Coast will have the backing of a raucous crowd in tonight’s final, but Nigeria boss Jose Peseiro insists the Super Eagles will not be intimidated by the occasion.
“I think it is good,” Peseiro insisted.
“The stadium will be full, fantastic atmosphere. One final, my players, me, and all my staff prefer to play in a full stadium with a good atmosphere.
“Even sometimes, they try to shout at us, not the football but it is a good atmosphere to play in the final, we only need to concentrate on what must do on the pitch, our task, job, demand, commitment, sacrifice, spirit, and what we must do in each moment of the game to manage our mental balance.
“It is for our players to put effort when the people around them push for Ivory Coast.”
Who will end their wait?
17:51 , Matt Verri
These are two of the big-hitters in African football, and both have tasted AFCON success relatively recently.
Nigeria last lifted the trophy in 2013, after beating Burkina Faso in the final, and two years later it was Ivory Coast winning the tournament.
The Elephants edge past Ghana at the end of a marathon penalty shootout, coming out on top 9-8.
Neither have reached a final since their wins – going to be an historic night for one of them!
Last time they met…
17:43 , Matt Verri
These two sides have already faced off in the tournament.
They were in the same group, with Nigeria coming out on top with a 1-0 victory over Ivory Coast on that occasion.
What the Super Eagles would give for more of the same tonight!
Standard Sport prediction
17:35 , Matt Verri
Nigeria were once again not at their best against South Africa, thinking they had wrapped up the game at 2-0 only for the goal to be chalked off and Bafana Bafana to be awarded a penalty for a foul in the build-up that was converted to force extra time.
But they held their nerve thereafter to triumph on penalties and tee up a tantalising clash with resurgent Ivory Coast in the final.
It’s hardly been vintage stuff from them in the knockouts either, but they have their belief back after a rotten loss to Equatorial Guinea and caretaker boss Emerse Fae deserves a lot of credit.
This will likely be a tense and cagey final decided by the odd goal, as was the group contest last month, but it also would not be a surprise to see it go all the way to extra time and penalties.
Nigeria to win, 1-0.
Ivory Coast team news
17:28 , Matt Verri
As for Ivory Coast, Sebastien Haller is now back fit and firing, along with Brighton’s Simon Adingra.
Serge Aurier, Odilon Kossounou and Oumar Diakite will all be back from suspension for the Elephants for the final, meanwhile.
A big decision comes is in the final third, where ex-Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe and Max Gradel will be competing to join talisman Haller.
Nigeria team news
17:18 , Matt Verri
Victor Osimhen was passed fit to lead Nigeria against South Africa after abdominal discomfort had initially delayed him from travelling with the squad.
Ola Aina, Moses Simon and Calvin Bassey were all a booking away from missing the final, but none of that trio were cautioned against South Africa.
Nigeria boss Jose Peseiro confirmed on Saturday that left-back Zaidu Sanusi was still dealing with a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the semi-finals and will need a late fitness test.
How to watch Nigeria vs Ivory Coast
17:12 , Matt Verri
TV channel: The final will be broadcast live in the UK on BBC Three, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.
Live stream: The BBC Sport website, BBC iPlayer and Sky Go app (to subscribers) will offer a live stream service online.
LIVE coverage: Follow all the final action right here with us!
Good evening!
17:05 , Matt Verri
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations final!
It’s Nigeria vs Ivory Coast, facing off to be crowned kings of the continent.
There will plenty of support inside the stadium for hosts Ivory Coast, but the Super Eagles will be backing themselves to spoil the party tonight.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 8pm GMT from the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
