AFCON sorrow for former Rangers heroes as Ivory Coast defeat Nigeria
Former Rangers title winners and Nigerian internationals Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo were left heartbroken after a late Sebastien Haller winner saw the Ivory Coast crowned African Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions for the third time in their history.
Ivory Coast last won the tournament in 2015, defeating Ghana on penalties, while three-time champions Nigeria were victors in the 2013 edition, defeating Burkina Faso in the Johannesburg final.
Bassey, who was born in Italy and raised in England but qualifies for Nigeria through his mother, played the entirety of the final for the Super Eagles, while the English-born Aribo appeared as a substitute in the 86th minute.
Nigeria took a first-half lead through a William Troost-Ekong header but were largely on the back foot against their Ivorian opposition.
Franck Kessie levelled from a corner, with some criticism drawn towards Bassey for leaving the Barcelona star unmarked before Haller headed home the winner in the 81st minute.
The two sides faced off in the tournament’s group stage, with a Troost-Ekong penalty securing a Super Eagles victory, but Jose Peseiro’s side were unable to repeat the feat in the Abidjan final.
Fulham defender Bassey played in every game of the competition, starting all but one, having left Ibrox in 2022 for Ajax in a £25m move.
Aribo, who scored the only goal of Rangers’ Europa League final loss in Seville in 2022, played in five matches on the route to the AFCON final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, having mainly featured as a substitute.
The winning header from Haller was an example of football providing a moment that extended far beyond sporting triumph; just a year ago the Ivorian striker was returning to football having recovered from a testicular cancer diagnosis six months prior.
The Borussia Dortmund striker also scored the winning goal in the AFCON semi-final against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
