Ivory Coast s coach Emerse Fae gives a press conference at the palais de la Culture in Abidjan on February 10, 2024 on the eve of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final football match between Ivory Coast and Nigeria. AFP
"We have a tremendous opportunity to keep the trophy at home tomorrow," Fae declared during the pre-game press conference on Saturday.
The AFCON hosts, Cote d'Ivoire, staged a historic comeback in the continental tournament, finishing as one of the best third-placed teams in the group stage.
They overcame Senegal, a heavyweight opponent, in a thrilling penalty shootout after the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
In the quarterfinals, the Elephants secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Mali, followed by a tight 1-0 win over DR Congo in the semifinals.
Acknowledging the challenges of organizing and winning a tournament, Fae expressed confidence in his team's ability to achieve this feat.
"We have reached the final, and tomorrow we have the opportunity to accomplish this goal and earn a third star for the orange jersey of Cote d'Ivoire," the coach stated.
Cote d'Ivoire now stands just one match away from replicating their successes in 1992 and 2015, and the team is determined to seize the moment.
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