President Bola Tinubu will be present in the stands to support the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their final showdown against the Ivory Coast Elephants in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 final match. Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), confirmed Tinubu’s attendance during a media conference in Abidjan on Friday, February 9, 2024.
Motsepe disclosed that Tinubu would make a brief trip to Abidjan on Sunday, February 11, 2024, for the highly anticipated match. Addressing journalists, Motsepe also hinted at discussing future FIFA World Cup bids with Tinubu during his visit.
The Nigerian government had previously dispatched a delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima to Bouake for the Super Eagles’ semi-final encounter against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana. Nigeria emerged victorious in the thrilling encounter, securing a spot in the final against the host nation.
The final match between Nigeria and Ivory Coast, dubbed the West Africa derby, will take place at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Ebimpe Abidjan, with a kick-off time of 9 pm Nigerian time. The clash is a rematch of their earlier Group A encounter, where Nigeria secured a narrow victory with a lone goal.
While Nigeria enters the final as the second-placed team in the group, Ivory Coast advanced to the knockout stage as one of the four best third-placed teams. Both teams will be vying for glory, with Nigeria aiming for their fourth AFCON title and Ivory Coast seeking their third championship triumph.
