The showdown of the second day in Group A at AFCON 2023 between Ivory Coast and Nigeria lived up to its expectations this Thursday. Following a highly contested match that ended in a victory for the Nigerians (0-1), here are the player ratings.
Ivory Coast failed to control Nigeria’s Super Eagles. In their quest for a second consecutive victory in AFCON 2023 to secure a direct spot in the round of 16, the Elephants succumbed after a fiercely contested match. Despite promising moves by Kouamé Ghislain and long-range shots by Seko Fofana, Ivory Coast lacked precision against Nigeria’s excellent goalkeeper.
Upon returning from the halftime break with a scoreless first half, the Nigerian team posed challenges for the Ivorian defense. In the 50th minute, Victor Osimhen maneuvered in the penalty area, drawing a foul from the young defender Diomandé. Without hesitation, the captain, Troost Ekong, converted the penalty, opening the scoring for Nigeria, which was seeking a victory to bounce back. Stunned, the Ivorians attempted to respond with changes made by Jean-Louis Gasset but without success.
After a lengthy additional time of 9 minutes, Ivory Coast failed to find the net, losing their second match in AFCON 2023 by the narrowest margin (1-0). With this result, Nigeria climbed to second place with 4 points behind Equatorial Guinea, who also had 4 points but a better goal difference. Ivory Coast dropped to 3rd place with 3 points and will seek qualification against the Group 22 leader in the next match with a mandatory victory.
Here are the player ratings from the match.
Ivory Coast
Yahia Fofana (6): The 23-year-old goalkeeper from Angers had another impressive performance, except for the penalty by Troost-Ekong.
Evan Ndicka (7): The Roma defender coped well against the Ballon d’Or 2023, particularly in the first half.
Ousmane Diomandé (4): The 20-year-old Sporting Portugal defender fought well but was caught off guard by Osimhen, leading to the costly penalty for Nigeria.
Ghislain Konan (6.5): Facing the dynamic Nigerian winger Chukwueze, the Al Nassr full-back held his ground but experienced a dip in performance leading to Nigeria’s goal.
Serge Aurier (6): The Nottingham Forest player put in great effort and fought well until his substitution due to physical issues.
Seko Fofana (6.5): In excellent form in AFCON 2023, Fofana showcased his powerful shots, creating concerns for Nigeria’s defense, although it wasn’t enough to prevent his team’s defeat.
Franck Kessié (6.5): A solid performance for the Al Ahli player, creating challenges for opponents with his vision and precise passes but couldn’t alter the course of the match.
Ibrahim Sangaré (7): The 26-year-old midfielder asserted himself in the midfield with his imposing physique.
Christian Kouamé (4.5): Starting ahead of Nicolas Pépé, the Fiorentina player had some notable actions but missed a crucial chance, impacting Ivory Coast’s fortunes.
Jérémie Boga (5): Boga had a mixed performance, struggling to trouble the Nigerian goalkeeper and contributing defensively before being substituted in the 66th minute.
Jean-Philippe Krasso (6): Leading the attack instead of Haller, Krasso was more involved in his own half than the Nigerian penalty area, posing a threat when needed.
Nigeria
Stanley Nwabali (7): A superb performance from the Nigerian goalkeeper, making three crucial saves in the first half to keep his team in the game.
William Troost-Ekong (7.5): The PAOK defender delivered a solid match, earning his team three points with a forceful penalty conversion.
Semi Ajayi (6): The West Bromwich Albion player also had a good match.
Calvin Bassey (6.5): Generous in his efforts, the young Nigerian full-back struggled in the first half but eventually found his footing in the second half.
Zaidu Sanusi (6.5): A solid performance from the Nigerian midfielder.
Alex Iwobi (5.5): The Nigerian playmaker didn’t shine, facing Ivorians who controlled possession, limiting Iwobi’s opportunities to showcase his talent.
Frank Onyeka (6.5): A solid match for the Nigerian player, covering a lot of ground in midfield.
Ola Aina (6.7): A determined performance from the Nigerian midfielder, especially in the second half when defending the lead.
Ademola Lookman (6.5): The dynamic Atalanta player tried everything to assist his team, but his efforts were thwarted by a resolute Aurier.
Victor Osimhen (6.5): Despite a big miss in the first half, the Napoli player earned a penalty early in the second half and elevated his performance for a successful evening of work.
Samuel Chukwueze (5): Starting against Ivory Coast, the AC Milan player faced difficulties against Konan, who effectively controlled him. Despite not shining near the Elephants’ goal, the 24-year-old winger fought for his teammates in midfield, leaving observers wanting more.
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