Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong is looking forward to the opportunity to lift the Africa Cup of Nations trophy along with his team.
Joyfully celebrating their victory over South Africa on penalties, the Super Eagles are set to face tournament hosts Ivory Coast at 20:00 GMT in the final this Sunday in Abidjan.
This marks Nigeria’s first final appearance since 2013, when they secured their third continental title.
The journey to this point has not been an easy one, as Nigeria was not considered a top contender for the trophy due to their average showing in the opening two 2026 World Cup qualifiers and their ranking as the sixth-best team in Africa according to FIFA’s world rankings.
Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro has remained steadfast in his belief in the team, emphasizing his desire to win the Afcon. This optimism was reflected in the team’s strong performances throughout the tournament, including their status as the top-ranked side since the round of 16.
South Africa, however, was left to reflect on a missed opportunity to advance to the final after their defeat against Nigeria. Despite the challenges, the team remains hopeful that their performances in the tournament, which included a last-16 win over Morocco, will help boost belief in their capabilities back home.
After defeat on penalties, South Africa will now face DR Congo in the third-place play-off on Saturday, also in Abidjan at 20:00 GMT.
