The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) has just concluded in Ivory Coast with the hosts emerging as champions in what many have described as the most exciting edition of the tournament in recent memory. The Elephants provided plenty of plot twists before securing the silverware, making the finals unforgettable.
Ivory Coast sealed a third continental title with Sebastien Haller scoring the decisive goals in the semi-final and final. Interim coach, Emerse Fae, also led the team to victory, marking a major success for him. The Ivorians had gone through a rollercoaster ride, parting company with their coach, needing penalties to beat the defending champions Senegal, and securing a 122nd-minute winner in the quarter-finals.
For the host nation, the event was a huge success, with the government spending over $1bn on preparations, including the building of new stadiums and the renovation of others. This investment has seen an improvement in infrastructure and has the potential to boost tourism in the future. President Alassane Ouattara joined in the post-match celebrations, reflecting on the money well spent in staging the finals.
The finals also saw many underdogs upsetting more illustrious opponents. Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde, Namibia, Angola, and Mauritania all outperformed expectations, showing the shrinking gap between big and small nations in African football.
The high number of goals and viewership records set during the tournament demonstrate its success, with more than two billion people watching the matches live on TV. Late goals and strong officiating performances made the tournament even more compelling.
Despite the success, there were also losers. Ghana’s performance was disappointing as they failed to secure a win and their coach, Chris Hughton, was dismissed. North African nations also fell short of expectations, with none of their representatives making it to the quarter-finals.
Mohamed Salah’s dream of ending Egypt’s 14-year wait for the title was also dashed as he was unable to lead his team to victory.
In conclusion, the 2023 Afcon in Ivory Coast was a momentous event with its fair share of surprises, upsets, and underdog victories. The tournament will be remembered for its thrilling matches, remarkable performances, and the unforgettable journey of the teams that participated.
