The highly anticipated 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final is set to take place today, Sunday, February 11, 2024, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé, with former Chelsea and AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho voicing his prediction for the outcome.
With the Super Eagles of Nigeria set to face off against the host nation Ivory Coast, Mourinho has expressed his favoritism towards the Nigerian team. Nigeria secured their spot in the final after a tense 4-2 penalty shootout triumph over South Africa’s Bafana Bafana. On the other hand, Ivory Coast secured their place in the final by defeating Cape Verde 1-0 in the semi-finals.
Mourinho, in an interview with football.com, extended his well wishes to both teams but indicated his inclination towards Nigeria’s success, citing his close relationship with the Nigerian coach, Jose Peseiro. He shared, “My best friend in football is in the final. The Nigerian coach is my best friend. He grew up with me and we studied together. We spent five years together every day. We left at the same time.”
Highlighting the significance of the moment for Peseiro, Mourinho expressed that it presents a monumental opportunity for him to etch his name in history, especially as no Portuguese coach has previously claimed victory in the African Cup.
The highly anticipated match is scheduled to kick off at 20:00 GMT, and fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the outcome.
