AFCON : NIGERIA VS IVORY COAST TIE BBC PREVIEW

 

Nigeria's Victory Osimhen and Ivory Coast's Sebastien Haller are expected to lead the line for their countries in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final

An enthralling final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is looming after Nigeria and tournament hosts Ivory Coast avoided potential upsets in the last four.

In a tournament which has seen a number of fancied sides fall by the wayside, the two teams left standing are both former champions.

Nigeria have lifted the trophy three times, in 1980, 1994 and 2013, while Ivory Coast triumphed in 1992 and 2015.

BBC Three will show the final on Sunday (20:00 GMT), with viewers in the UK also able to watch on iPlayer and the BBC Sport website, while the BBC World Service will broadcast radio commentary in Africa.

The Super Eagles needed a penalty shootout to overcome South Africa in the semi-finals following a dramatic 1-1 draw which had seen Bafana Bafana net a 90th-minute spot-kick to equalise.

Ivory Coast then secured a 1-0 win over DR Congo, becoming the first tournament hosts to reach the final since Egypt won the Nations Cup on home soil in 2006.

The Elephants, who only made the knockout stages as a best third-placed side, had produced a thrilling quarter-final win over Mali to make the last four after beating holders Senegal on spot-kicks in the last 16.

The two countries met earlier on in the tournament in a Group A encounter, with Nigeria winning though William Troost-Ekong's second-half penalty.

BBC Sport Africa provides you with all the information on the 34th edition of Africa's biggest sporting event.