African Football Domination – Winnipeg Free Press

Opinion

After that, the dream final.

Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations (14:00, FuboTV) is not expected to end. No, both Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire, although traditional contenders, have not wanted to reach this point in the competition, which was scheduled for last June and July before being moved to this January and February.

Holders Senegal, who have the likes of Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly, are likely to be crowned champions for the first time since Egypt won back-to-back titles between 2006 and 2010. Pharaohs led by Liverpool. striker Mohamed Salah looked set to play his part in making the 2021 final a repeat.

Both left the 1/8 finals. In addition, Cameroon and Burkina Faso were also present, meaning that the previous four semi-finalists were eliminated from the board early. Even Morocco – just 13 months removed from fourth place at the World Cup – lost early, while Algeria, Tunisia and Ghana each failed to get out of their groups.

So far, Nigeria have been uncharacteristically quiet, scoring just once from open play in the group stage and knocking out Cameroon, Angola and South Africa.

Normally, the Super Eagles know for all that Africa's most populous nation is here for the party, the celebrations are better for their presence and they are the last to leave. They are rare.

This is based on former and flamboyant international players like Rashidi Yekini, Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha. Only the end result rarely shows noise. Most recently crowned champions in 2013, Nigeria's three continental titles is behind Egypt and West African rivals Cameroon and Ghana on the all-time list.

It was very unusual that they came into this tournament with so little fanfare; it was much less likely that they were not in the top group of favorites. In their belief, they used the lack of attention to create a match that was on the verge of winning.

While previous Nigerian teams may have focused on scoring first and defending second (they were second top scorers in 1994 and 1980 when they won in 2013), this team has a foundation. Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and William Troost-Ekong.

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, the reigning African Footballer of the Year who led Serie A with 26 goals last season, has won just once in this Cup of Nations and has often tricked wingers Ademola Luqman and Moses Simon.

These eagles have very high eagle eyes, hovering above the ground before sensing their moment and quickly pouncing on their target. The problem is that they will face a phoenix in Sunday's downpour, not a sable antelope or even a recalcitrant lion.

At the end of last month, Ivory Coast spent two days saying the tournament was over. Embarrassed 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea, they sacked their manager and waited for further humiliation. After all, as hosts of the Nations Cup, their performance should at least justify the huge investment in stadiums, transit and social infrastructure.

Morocco then defeated Zambia and they entered the round of 16 as dead-last qualifiers – and the resurrection began.

Incoming head coach Emerse Fae shuffled the squad, adding Jean-Michel Seri to the previously-deployed midfield and recalling 36-year-old winger Max Gradel. His most significant contributions were a new, positive voice and personal connection to the idolized national teams of Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Eboue and Yaya Toure.

On Monday last week – as if it had already happened due to the drama of the occasion – Ivory Coast beat Senegal on penalties, and five days later they beat Mali in extra time with Oumar Diakite's winner. They never looked like losing in Wednesday's semi-final against DR Congo.

From the opening day's win over Guinea-Bissau to Sunday's final, there has never been a tournament run quite like Ivory Coast's. A win in Abidjan would have been a fittingly poetic conclusion to their journey, but then the plots, none of the predictions, have meant anything in the last few weeks.

Either way, the final outcome of this Africa Cup of Nations will make sense but also be silly. That's why it was so attractive.

Now he delivers a match that no one knows what to expect for the last time.

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X @JerradPeters