The Super Eagles of Nigeria inflicted a 1-0 defeat on the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in their second Group A game in the ongoing AFCON 2023 at Stade Alassane Ouattara Abidjan on Thursday night, and the host nation’s Media came out on Friday with interesting headlines and match reviews, Completesports.com reports.
The hard-earned victory put Jose Peseiro’s men in a good position to secure a place in the next round.
The three-time African champions now need a point from their final group game against Guinea-Bissau next week Monday to confirm their place in the AFCON 2023 Round of 16.
Also Read – AFCON 2023: Aina, Bassey, Onyeka Were Outstanding Against Ivory Coast –Oliseh
The hosts will need to beat Equatorial Guinea on the same day to be sure of a place in the Round of 16. However, for all the top three teams in the group, there is also a chance of advancing to the next round as one of the best third-placed teams.
Cote d’Ivoire’s oldest newspaper, Fraternite Matin offers the Elephants’ fans hope going into Monday’s decisive matchday-3 clash with the Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder) of Equatorial Guinea.
Reflecting on the match, the country’s oldest tabloid in one of the major headlines on its front page wrote: “Can 2023/Côte d’Ivoire-Nigeria: 0-1 Eléphants, ce n’est pas fini” [“Elephants, It’s Not Over Yet], with the story reiterating that there is still hope of making progress in the tournament.
The popular LE Quotidien D’Abidjan states that Jean-Louis Gasset’s men put their Round of 16 hopes in danger with the defeat conceded to the Super Eagles: “CAN 2023/ BATTUE PAR LE NIGERIA HIER La Cöte d’voire Compromet Ses Chances de qualification pour les huitièmes de finale” [CAN 2023/ DEFEATED BY NIGERIA YESTERDAY – Côte d’Ivoire Endanger Her Chances of qualification for the round of 16].
Also Read – AFCON 2023: Super Eagles Won’t Underrate Guinea-Bissau– Osimhen
L’Intelligent D’Abidjan however offers the Ivorians hope with a more subtle headline emphasising that, ”There is good news and about all hopes not lost” at AFCON 2023. It also published a story with perspectives, atmosphere, and the sidelines of the match.
For Le Nouveau Eveil, the Elephants must strive to avoid a repeat of what happened to them when Cote d’Ivoire hosted the competition in 1984: “CAN de I’hospitalite/ Defaite de la Cote d’Ivoire face au Nigeria: Eléphants, évitez Cöte d’Ivoire 84 bis!” [AFCON Hospitality/ Defeat of Ivory Coast against Nigeria: Elephants, avoid a repeat of Côte d’Ivoire’84 !]
The West Africans won their first game in 1984 but lost their second and third games to exit the competition after the group phase.
By Adeboye Amosu in Abidjan
(Photos by Ganiyu Yusuf)
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