Ivorians Still on Cloud 9 One Week After Winning 2023 AFCON, Journalist Gauges Mood in the Country

• Ivory Coast staged a fightback to beat Nigeria in the 2023 AFCON final
• The Elephants edged Nigeria 2-1 to win their third continental title
• Sports Brief gauges the mood in the country a week after their success

One week following the conclusion of the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Ivorian fans are still reveling in the glory of their national team's remarkable triumph, marking their third continental success.

In a thrilling final held on February 11 at the state-of-the-art Stade Alassane Ouattara, the Elephants staged a remarkable comeback from a goal down to secure a 2-1 victory over Nigeria, with Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller finding the back of the net.

While the nation celebrates their triumph, it's worth acknowledging the perilous journey they endured, coming dangerously close to an embarrassing exit in the tournament's group stages.

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Ivory Coast's journey to AFCON glory

After a strong start with a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau, the 2023 AFCON hosts suffered consecutive defeats, including a devastating 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea, leaving their fate hanging by a thread, per Reuters.

However, a series of fortuitous results, including Morocco's victory over Zambia, enabled the Elephants to progress to the knockout stage, where they never looked back under the guidance of former midfielder Emerse Fae, who took over from Jean-Louis Gasset, as cited by the BBC.

Their resilience was on full display as they staged incredible comebacks, overcoming a goal deficit to defeat Senegal on penalties in the round of 16 and replicating the feat against Mali to secure a spot in the semi-finals.

Borussia Dortmund's Haller then ignited the nation's hopes with a crucial goal in the semi-finals, setting the stage for a dramatic final showdown against Nigeria.

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Despite falling behind early to a William Troost-Ekong header, a spirited Ivorian side, buoyed by an electric atmosphere at the Ebimpe stadium, rallied back, with Kessie equalizing before Haller's decisive strike secured a historic victory, sending both the stadium and television viewers into euphoria.

Ivorians still on cloud 9 after AFCON success

Reflecting on Ivory Coast's success, journalist Clément Yetonhegnon, affiliated with La 3 channel in Abidjan, told Sports Brief:

"A week after the victory, a feeling of pride inspires the Ivorians. Some have already embroidered the third star on their jerseys while some continue to immerse themselves in the final match replays."

He also emphasised the growing tension among supporters of the Ivorian FA president, Idriss Diallo, and legendary striker Didier Drogba, with some expressing a desire for the latter to replace Diallo.

"However there is this little war between the supporters of the federation president Idriss Diallo and the supporters of Drogba who tickle him at each outing, others go so far as to demand his head for the benefit of Drogba otherwise the celebration continues while waiting for the matches friendly from March."

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Emerse Fae joins exclusive list of AFCON winners

The journey of Les Elephants towards their triumphant victory at the Cup of Nations, a tale that remains one of football's most remarkable stories, undeniably bore the indelible imprint of coach Emerse Fae.

Despite his apparent lack of experience, Fae adeptly rallied the team, orchestrating a remarkable turnaround that culminated in clinching the AFCON title amidst a fervent crowd at the Stade Alassane Ouattara.

This victory not only etched a historic moment for the former Clermont reserve team coach but also cemented his legacy in African football history, as he became the 12th African coach to hoist the AFCON crown, Sports Brief reported.