AFCON 2023: The Best Players, Latest Record Holders, And More

The 34th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations delightfully finished extravagantly at the majestic Alassane Ouattara stadium on Sunday night after Cote d’Ivoire came back from behind to seal a glorious third AFCON title against Nigeria.

With the tournament officially closed on the competition, CAF has awarded the best performers of the competition. As a matter of fact, this competition is one of the efficient events that produced staggering players in present day African football.

Simon Adingra, 22, was named the TotalEnergies Man of the Match for the final game against Nigeria and was responsible for two of Cote d’Ivoire’s assists.

Nigerian commander, William Troost-Ekong left with the Best Player grant.

Equatorial Guinea danger man, Emilio Nsue Lopez was additionally named as the PUMA Golden Boot award for his 5 goals that saw him top the goal scoring charts of the competition.

Ronwen Williams, the Bafana Bafana shot stopper, was selected as the Ecobank Best Goalkeeper for his heroics with the bronze medalists. Among his accomplishments were a record-breaking four saves on penalties against Cape Verde and two saves on penalties against DR Congo.

The Fair Play against the Cote d’Ivoire Team was also a part of Bafana Bafana’s bronze medal, which came with them finishing third in the competition. They additionally received the general Fair Play award in the competition.

The winner’s trophy which was brought on by Togolese football legend, Emmanuel Adebayor was presented by Cote d’Ivoire President, His Excellence Alassane Ouattara alongside CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe and FIFA President, Gianni Ingantino to Cote d’Ivoire skipper, Max Gradel.

Host Ivory Coast Outflank Nigeria In An Exciting Game To Win AFCON

The official handing over of the CAF Flag to the Royal Moroccan Federation was also part of the ceremony. This signifies that the country will now be in charge of hosting the competition in 2026.

Here’s the complete winners list for the CAN CAF TotalEnergies, Ivory Coast 2023:

Winner: Cote d’Ivoire

Finalist: Nigeria

Third: South Africa

Fourth: Democratic Republic of Congo

TotalEnergies Best Player: William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)

Puma Golden Boot: Emilio Nsue Lopez

Ecobank Best Goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams (South Africa)

Air Côte d’Ivoire Fair-Play Team: South Africa

Meanwhile, below are some raw facts and figures from the final match and in general, the 2023 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations:

• For the twelfth time ever, the host country have won the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, and the first since Egypt in 2006. For Côte d’Ivoire, this is their third title ever, after 1992 in Senegal and 2015 in Equatorial Guinea.

• Goals Scored- 116

• Nigeria have been eliminated in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations final for the fifth time (after 1984, 1988, 1990 and 2000), equalling Ghana for the joint-most a side has finished as the tournament’s runners-up.

• Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé is the very first manager to win a CAF Africa Cup of Nations tournament without starting the edition as head coach of his team.

• Nigeria only attempted five shots in the final game against Ivory Coast– the fewest tally in a CAF Africa Cup of Nations game since (2010).

• Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong is the first defender/full back to score three goals in a same CAF Africa Cup of Nations edition since (2010).

• William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) and Sébastien Haller (Côte d’Ivoire) are the first players to score in both CAF semi-final and final in a same CAF Africa Cup of Nations edition since Gedo with Egypt in 2010.

• Ivory Coast’s Franck Kessié scored two goals in his last four CAF Africa Cup of Nations games (1 v Senegal in the last 16, 1 v Nigeria in the final), after finding the net just once in his first 15 in the tournament. He also scored the very first goal for Côte d’Ivoire in a CAF AFCON final, for their fifth game at this stage.

• Côte d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra is the first player to assist twice in a CAF Africa Cup of Nations final in the 21st century.

• At 36 years and 73 days, Côte d’Ivoire’s Max-Alain Gradel became the oldest outfield player to appear in a CAF Africa Cup of Nations final since (2008) and the second overall behind Egypt’s goalkeeper Essam El Hadary (37 years in 2010 and 44 years in 2017).