By Victor Kanayo
Days after the 2023 African Cup of Nations ended in Cote d’ivoire with the host emerging as champions, the torns and gains of the tournament still reverberate all around.
Aside the economic and other benefits which accrued to the host nation, every other component of the just concluded 34th edition of the competition has continued to rear up.
From players’ more exposure to coaches leap to Eldorado in their career pursuit, no one is left in doubt that the AFCON success will linger.
Before the kickoff, till its grand finale, some aspects of play and technical abilities were foretold in somewhat doubt and a bit of shadow of some sorts.
Soar Tastes Experience
Ofcourse, not all smiled at the end as a tournament of this magnitude produces different shades of experiences and outcomes.
For instance, it was a tournament to completely forget for the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah whose teams they captained couldn’t make expected impact. Same goes for some other little-known players.
Coaches weren’t left as the competition exposed varrying technical and managerial inefficiencies of them who were either sacked or resigned due to poor performance. Managers who led Tanzania, Algeria, and Cote d’ivoire among others to the tournament were culpable.
There Comes The Sweet Gains Heading To 2025
And as another AFCON beckons in 2025, they are already permutations as per which countries will make the expanded 32-team tournament slated for Morocco.
But it all starts with the qualification series which officially kicks off with the preliminary stages as announced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), continental soccer authorities. Already, the fixtures are out.
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Now, there’s an ongoing alignment and re-allignment by teams based on this year’s performance with coaches and players who stood out.
No doubt, three coaches – Jose Peseiro, Emerse Fae and Hugo Broos had the last laugh.
While Peseiro handled Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Fae and Broos managed Cote d’ivoire and South Africa. Among the three, two of them – Fae and Peseiro have been talk of the times with the later currently out of any job.
Fae Era
However, Fae’s rise to stardom has been miraculous. Unlike others, Fae initially didn’t take charge of the victorious Elephants of Cote d’ivoire. He was only an assistant to the team’s head coach who was later sacked following the country’s poor group performance.
Fae was then meant to steer the team to eventually win the tournament in style, including orchestrating a dramatic turnaround, which led Cote d’Ivoire to their third continental title.
As a reward, his country has made him the team’s permanent handler.
Fae’s appointment this week marks a pivotal moment in the country’s footballing history, following their triumphant campaign on home soil this month.
In response to the historic achievement, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirmed Fae’s elevation to the permanent coaching position, heralding a new era of stability and ambition for Ivorian football.
FIF President Idriss Diallo expressed confidence in Fae’s capabilities, affirming his pivotal role in the team’s success.
“Emerse was until now interim coach and has just been confirmed as full coach,” Diallo stated, underscoring the federation’s faith in Fae’s ability to lead the team forward as leading the team as the interim coach to continental title success.
As Fae assumes his permanent role, the Cote d’Ivoire celebrates not only a remarkable sporting feat but also the dawn of a footballing renaissance under his stewardship.
With renewed optimism and determination, the nation looks ahead to a future filled with promise and potential on the international stage.
Will Peseiro Remain Nigeria’s Manager?
This is certainly the basic question on the lips of most football stakeholders and fans across Nigeria. While some believe the Portuguese did a good job with the Super Eagles at AFCON, many other feel his tactics always lacked technical depth, enough reason for him to look for job elsewhere.
But the body language of the Nigeria Football Federation suggests that he will most likely get a fresh contract, despite the gaffer tabling new conditions if he must accept to continue.
At the moment, Algeria, one of the nations reported to had penciled him down for possible engagement has now settled for another tactician Petrovic. Reports from Algiers suggest that Petrovic will likely be unveiled in few days after putting pen on paper.
The latest development has narrowed Peseiro’s available opportunities, at least, for now.
Outstanding Players
Stanley Nwabali
One of the players who caught people’s attention at the 2023 AFCON is goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali who surprisingly shone like a million star for Nigeria.
Though he slipped off being rated the overall best, obviously due to the fact he conceded two goals at the final, Nwabali has received $70,700, land, flat, chieftaincy tile, national and state honours after the tournament.
His Instagram followers went from 27,000 to 700,000.
He got $57,500 in AFCON bonuses. He received N20 million ($13,200) from Rivers State and a chieftaincy title.
Nwabali made the most of his chance with the Super Eagles at the AFCON as he played all seven matches leading up to the tournament final.
Troost Ekong
Super Eagles on-field Captain, William Troost-Ekong, was crowned the Best Player of the tournament after his notably superlative performance.
Despite being a defender, he scored three goals in total at the end of AFCON, making outstanding and best ever in recent times.
Ademola Lookman
Striker Ademola Lookman who plies his professional trade for Atalanta gave a good account of himself with three dazzling goals to himself.
The dangerman’s pace, talent, and unwavering ability to find goals which scared every defence.
He was one of the nine debutants for Super Eagles whose skillful and creative style of play added versatility and attacking flair to the team’s forward line, where he also provided an assist.
The Atalanta forward scored three goals in the tournament, including a brace in the 2-0 win over familiar foe Cameroon in the round of 16. He was also named in the team of the tournament.
Sebastian Haller
He began representing Ivory Coast at the knockout stage. But every time Haller was been introduced, the hosts found him to be crucial.
He performed admirably in their semi-final matchup with D.R. Congo, scoring the game’s lone goal to send his team to the final.
Seko Fofana
The Al-Nassr FC player was the main catalyst for Ivory Coast during the tournament because of his intense devotion to the national team.
Ronwen Williams
South African goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, won the ‘Goalkeeper of the Tournament’ award after his heroics to power the Bafana Bafana to a third-placed finish ahead of Nwabali.
General Reactions On The AFCON
Veteran Jose Mourinho was quoted to rate the biennial competition high.
He said, “I have watched AFCON more than European football. They are simply teaching us to be honest. In AFCON VAR is used exactly the way it should be used.
“They do not use it to help the money magnet teams or famous teams. This is why you saw the best out of every team . Because they know VAR is not hired behind the scenes but is for everyone.
“They listen even to their Players if the Ref missed something and go check.
“In Europe if I as a coach or a player plead with a ref to go check something, it is a red card for doing that. The headquarters for VAR needs to be in CAF.”
Also, another notable football figure Neville also made similar remarks, scoring the general outcome high.
