Côte d'Ivoire's national football team defeated Nigeria in the final game of the African Cup of Nations to win gold in the tournament.
The match in the Ivorian capital Abidjan ended 2-1. The hosts lost from the 38th minute when Nigerian William Troost-Ekong scored a goal.
In the second half, however, the Ivorian team equalized through midfielder Franck Yannick Kessié, and nine minutes before the end of regular time, striker Sebastian Haller brought the victory.
The teams met in the group stage on January 18, with the Nigerians winning 1-0. After losing two of three matches in the tournament’s group stage, conceding five goals, the Elephants, as the Ivorian team is known, fired Jean-Louis Gasset, leaving Emers Fahe as interim coach, who guided the team to the final and the coveted trophy.
The Ivorian national team has won the African Cup of Nations for the third time. The Ivorians previously won the tournament in 1992 and 2015. In addition, Côte d'Ivoire became the first host nation since 2006 (after Egypt) to reach the final.
The AFCON bronze went to South Africa, who defeated DR Congo on penalties.
Nigeria's captain William Troost-Ekong, who scored three goals at the championship, was named the Player of the Tournament. The Golden Boot went to Equatorial Guinea captain Emilio Nsue, who scored five goals.
South African Ronwen Williams, who kept five clean sheets in seven matches, was named AFCON's best goalkeeper.