GLORY BECKONS Big London connection in Nigeria’s bid for Cup of Nations glory
Ivory Coast eye historic comeback as they face Nigeria in Cup of Nations final
Abidjan, Ivory Coast - Nigeria will have a strong London connection in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final with key players born in Britain likely to line up against the Ivory Coast.
There are four players born in the boroughs of the British capital in the Nigerian squad plus two other key regulars, Calvin Bassey and midfielder Alex Iwobi, who have lived in London from an early age. Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman are English-born and have made a major contribution to Nigeria’s progress to the final.
Joe Aribo, also from London and who struggled with injury at the start of the tournament, has had limited game time but has contributed off the bench.
Lookman, who is Nigeria’s top marksman at the tournament with three goals, is proving an excellent partner in attack alongside African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen.
Aina has emerged as arguably the best right back on view over the last month in the Ivory Coast while centre back Ajayi has played every minute of their six games.
Lookman, a product of Charlton Athletic’s academy, played for England when they won the 2017 Under-20 World Cup.
At first he rejected Nigeria’s overtures saying he wanted to play for England, but two years ago switched allegiance and has gone on to become a regular.
Aina came through the Chelsea academy and was also an England youth international while Ajayi was bought by Arsenal from Charlton but sat on the bench for the Gunners in the Premier League.
I don’t have the words, I still have trouble taking it all in It’s incredible, to reach the final in your country’s tournament. The players have done extraordinary things EMERSE FAE
Abidjan, Ivory Coast - Ivory Coast can complete a remarkable recovery and put a successful seal on an absorbing Africa Cup of Nations tournament if they can beat Nigeria on Sunday and claim the title on home soil.
Hollywood screenwriters would find their passage to potential glory barely plausible, but the Ivorians are one game away from the continent’s top prize despite being on the verge of elimination on several occasions over the last month.
They scraped through the group phase, staged thrilling come-from-behind wins in the last-16 and quarter-final and are
now looking to complete one of the great comebacks in the tournament’s storied history.
“I don’t have the words, I still have trouble taking it all in,” admitted Ivory Coast’s coach Emerse Fae.
Fae was catapulted into the job after 70-year-old Frenchman Jean-louis Gasset was sacked as the Ivorians waited for three days to find out whether they would qualify from the group phase as one of the best thirdplaced sides.
When they did, they went on to beat holders Senegal on penalties and then snatch a quarter-final win over neighbours Mali, where they were down to 10 men for most the match, equalised in the 90th minute and then netted the winner at the end of extra time.
“It’s incredible, to reach the final in your country’s tournament. It’s an immense joy. The players have done extraordinary things,” added Fae, 40.
The Ivorians lost to Nigeria in their second group game when a cagey contest was decided by a penalty, only awarded after a lengthy VAR review.
Nigeria employed a clever tactical plan, which included an uncharacteristic five-man defence and extensive use of the flanks to attack. Their X-factor, however, remains striker Victor Osimhen, who has had an outstanding tournament despite scoring only once.
The reigning African Footballer of the Year has an eyecatching work rate and is a constant menace for opposing defenders although he struggled with a stomach complaint in their semi-final success over South Africa.
Nigeria were taken to extra time and penalties on Wednesday before securing their final berth while the Ivorians beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 10 in the regulation 90 minutes, handing them a slight advantage.
With the tournament being played in hot temperatures and with high levels of humidity, fatigue has been noticeable for teams playing again a few days after being forced into extra time.