AFCON 2023 Awards- Ivory Coast becomes champions; William Troost-Ekong wins Player of the Tournament
Who won AFCON 2024
Ivory Coast beat Nigeria 2-1 to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on home turf, lifting their third title in history. Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller struck in the second half for the Elephants to negate William Troost-Ekong’s first-half opener for the Super Eagles.
The hosts of the tournament were dominant in the game, mustering more than thrice as many shots as Nigeria (18 to 5), eight times the shots on target (8 to 1) and commanding a mammoth 63% possession.
Ivory Coast won the title for the first time since 2015 and were the first host country to win the trophy on home soil since Egypt in 2006.
AFCON 2023 Awards: AFCON Team of the Tournament
Goalkeeper: Stanley Nwabali (Nigeria)
He was supposed to be a backup goalkeeper to Francis Uzoho, but Stanley Nwabili made the position his own with a series of eye-catching displays between the sticks. Four clean sheets to boot and an excellent performance in the finals too.
Right-back: Ola Aina (Nigeria)
Excellent shifts in defense by marshaling the backline with utmost aplomb.
Centre-back William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)
It says a lot when a defender wins the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award, as Troost-Ekong pulled it off on the back of talismanic displays for Nigeria. He also scored three goals along the way and dispatched his penalty in their shootout victory over South Africa in the semi-finals
Centre-back: Evan N’dicka (Ivory Coast)
N’dicka had become a household name in club football in recent times, but after the AFCON win, he’s established himself on the international stage too. The AS Roma defender was solid at the heart of Ivory Coast’s backline and played a key role in limiting Victor Osimhen’s influence in the finals.
Left-back: Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo)
The mortar that held Congo’s bricks together, Masuaku made a statement with his defensive resolve while also scoring in their quarter-final win over Guinea.
Central midfielder: Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
A battering ram at the heart of South Africa’s midfield, Sundowns was breaking the opposition side’s attacking plays. He scored against Morocco and Nigeria in the knockout stages too.
Defensive midfielder: Frank Onyeka (Nigeria)
With Wilfried Ndidi missing in action, Onyeka took over the leadership mantle in the middle with his excellent recovery skills and dictating Nigeria’s tempo from the deep.
Central midfielder: Franck Kessie (Ivory Coast)
The former Barcelona ace started with an assist in their opening day win over Guinea-Bissau and didn’t look back thereafter, netting against Senegal in the last-16 and Nigeria in the finals.
Left-winger: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
A barnstorming presence on the flanks, Lookman contributed with three goals at the tournament and remained a menace to opposing players throughout their run with his movements and devastating link-up play.
Striker: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
The Napoli star netted just one goal but that doesn’t reflect his fine campaign for the Super Eagles in the attack. Osimhen offered great energy and impetus to Nigeria’s attack, holding it all together for them.
Right-winger: Mostafa Mohamed (Egypt)
The only shining light from an otherwise erratic Egypt side, Mohamed scored once in all four of their games, including in their round of 16 clash with DR Congo. He well and truly upstaged Mohamed Salah, who emerged as one the tournament’s biggest disappointments.
AFCON 2023 Awards: Goalkeeper of the 2023 AFCON Tournament
Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
South Africa achieved third-place at the 2023 AFCON and that wouldn’t have been possible without their talismanic goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams. The 32-year-old registered five clean sheets in seven appearances at the tournament. Against Cape Verde in the penalty shootouts, Williams kept out four penalties in an astronomical display, before saving two more against DR Congo in the third-place playoffs.
AFCON 2023 Awards: AFCON Player of the Tournament
William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)
For the first time since Rigobert Song for Cameroon in 2002, we have a defender winning the AFCON Player of the Tournament award. Troost-Ekong gave a defensive masterclass at the Ivory Coast showpiece while also contributing in the attack with three goals, including one in the finals.
Also Read: Who will win Nigeria vs Ivory Coast AFCON 2024 Final?
