NGA v CIV: Nigerian Journalist Names Player of the Tournament, Explains Why Final Would Be Different

• AFCON 2023 is set to come to an end after a month of football brilliance from different players
• The final of the tournament will be between Nigeria's Super Eagles and Ivory Coast's Elephants
• A popular Nigerian journalist has named his best player of the tournament ahead of the final

Nigerian sports journalist Chijioke Isaac Ezeali has named his preferred choice for the best player award at the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

The tournament took over the football scene for a month, with the final set to take place at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Sunday, February 11.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will lock horns with the host nation, Ivory Coast, in the competition's grand finale.

Several players have showcased their footballing talents in the tournament, but Ezeali, while speaking with Sports Brief, singled out one player who impressed him with his abilities.

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"It's been a tournament of good team efforts and less of individual shines," he said.

"However, I've been super impressed by William Ekong and won't be surprised if he is crowned as the tournament's MVP."

Considering their group-stage encounter, the Nigerian journalist also shared his thoughts on the final between the Super Eagles and the Elephants.

"It's totally going to be a different game from the group stage. The Ivorians are mentally stronger now, especially with key players like Kessie and Haller fully involved in the team with the home crowd solidly behind them," he added.

"The Super Eagles just need to find an early goal that would keep the crowd quiet and help them control the game. Otherwise, it would be a highly tensed game for the whole duration of the encounter."

Ezeali also named two Ivorian players that Nigeria should be wary of in the final.

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"I already mentioned the two. Kessie drives the team from midfield, and Haller is the focal point of the attack. So, Onyeka and Iwobi have their hands full on Sunday because if they do a good job on Kessie, they can control the tempo of the game from midfield," he concluded.

AFCON final: Ezeali discloses what to expect

Sports Brief earlier reported that Ezeali explained what to expect in the AFCON 2023 final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast on Sunday.

This would be the second meeting between both nations in the competition, with the Super Eagles being victorious in their first encounter.