The two times Ivory Coast emerged AFCON winners

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

The Elephants of Ivory Coast, despite a tournament featuring remarkable highs and lows, have pushed to the finals of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Their opening matchday victory was followed by successive losses to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea. With their fate hanging in the balance, this period of turbulence saw the exit of head coach Jean Louis Gasset.

ALSO READ: Nigeria to face Ivory Coast in AFCON final following victory against South Africa

Emerse Faè so far over the knockouts has steadied the ship with three important victories to send them to the finals.

Now on the cusp of a potential third continental conquest, here’s how the Ivorians previous success has looked like.

Chapter 1 -1992

Ivory Coast made their first ever final appearance in the 1992 AFCON edition against a versed Ghana outfit in the tournament. 

The Elephants came into the final having rounded up the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the semi-final.

Ghana on the other hand via a comeback victory against Nigeria when a Mutiu Adepoju early header pegged them back.

The iconic Abedi Pele kickstarted that run, eventually picking up a yellow card that unfortunately ruled him out of the final game 3 days later.

In his absence, Ivory Coast forced a goalless draw out of Ghana in normal time and added extra time.

ALSO READ: Tribute to Kayode Tijani, a sports journalist par excellence

The ensuing shootouts which saw every player take a spot kick eventually ended 11-10 in the favour of the Ivorians.

Chapter 2 – 2015

In similar fashion as the first triumph, the Ivorian national team won the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 23 years as they blazed past the Black Stars of Ghana 9-8 on penalties. 

This triumph put then manager Herve Renard on a pedestal becoming the first manager to win the tournament with two different teams (previously with Zambia in 2012).

In a tie seeing a total of 22 kick, Ivorian shot-stopper Boubacar Barry converted from the spot having already presented the opposing Razak Braimah from converting to secure the second AFCON title for Ivory Coast.

Fresh off the retirement of household name Didier Drogba after the Brazil held 2014 world cup, the Elephants squad to the tournament had Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure and Wilfried Bony leading the squad.

Chapter 3?

The potential third chapter will come against the advances of a much inspired Nigerian side. Playing on home soil, the Ivorians would look to leave everything out there to secure a third title in front of their own crowd.