5 Things We Learned From the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

• Ivory Coast defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday
• After a poor group-stage display, the Elephants still went on to win the lift the trophy
• Sports Brief takes a look at the five things we learned from the entire tournament

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations concluded in thrilling fashion on Sunday as Ivory Coast clinched victory over Nigeria with a 2-1 triumph in the final, securing their third championship title.

The Elephants stole the spotlight throughout the tournament, particularly for their decision to dismiss manager Jean-Louis Gasset following a lacklustre showing in the group stage, yet persevering to claim the coveted trophy.

Sports Brief looks at highlights from the latest edition.

Things we learned from the 2023 AFCON

Ivory Coast's remarkable resurgence

AFCON 2023: History shows Nigeria and Ivory Coast will make finals ahead of DRC and S.Africa

Football

Following a stunning 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast seemed destined for an early departure. The Ivorian Football Federation swiftly replaced French manager Gasset with former player Emerse Fae, the BBC reported.

Despite barely making it to the knockout stages, they defied the odds by defeating strong contenders and defending champions Senegal in a penalty shootout in Fae's debut match in charge.

Subsequently, they overcame Mali in extra time in the quarter-finals and secured a narrow 1-0 victory over DR Congo in the semi-finals.

Branded as the 'Zombies' due to their resilience, they once again staged an incredible comeback from adversity, rallying to a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the final despite initially trailing, proving the enduring strength of the Ivorian team.

The Black Stars: A Need for Significant Change

Ghana endured a forgettable tournament, failing to progress beyond the group stages with just two draws and a defeat.

AFCON: The 4 key Ivorians to miss semifinal clash against DRC including quarterfinal hero Diakite

Football

Despite boasting talents like West Ham's Mohammed Kudus, Crystal Palace's Jordan Ayew, and Athletic Bilbao's Inaki Williams, the Black Stars struggled to make an impact.

Per ESPN, former Brighton manager Chris Hughton was dismissed after less than a year in charge, prompting the four-time champions to commence their search for a new coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June.

South Africa's Remarkable Journey

South Africa defied expectations by reaching the semi-finals of the tournament, capturing attention with their impressive performance.

Their toughest test came against 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco in the round of 16.

Goals from Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena secured a memorable 2-0 victory despite PSG star Achraf Hakimi missing a late penalty for the Moroccans.

Mauritania Soars to New Heights

Mauritania made history by qualifying for the AFCON for the first time in 2018, and as they entered this year's competition, they harboured hopes of surpassing their previous performance.

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Football

The Lions of Chinguetti were still in search of their maiden victory heading into the final group match against Algeria.

They achieved a narrow 1-0 win, propelling them to their first-ever knockout match against Cape Verde. Although they couldn't replicate another upset against Cape Verde, Mauritania etched their name in AFCON history with an impressive showing.

Continued Surge in Viewership

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced that over two billion people worldwide tuned in to watch the tournament live on television.

Collaborations with various broadcasters, including Sky and BBC, contributed to the increased viewership figures for the competition. CAF president Patrice Motsepe anticipates even higher viewership for the next tournament.

Musa breaks his silence after Nigeria loss

Sports Brief recently reported on Ahmed Musa breaking his silence after Nigeria's loss in the final.

The Super Eagles captain took to social media to air his thoughts after the painful defeat.

He wrote that he is filled with immense pride for his team.