ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — Many are calling it the best-ever Africa Cup of Nations. The 34th edition of the biennial soccer tournament served up more goals, plenty of late drama, and surprising twists and turns as underdogs had their day.
It finished with a happy ending for host nation Ivory Coast after its remarkable path to the final, including near-elimination in the group stage.
The Elephants defeated Nigeria 2-1 in Sunday’s final in the 60,000-capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium to set off unbridled celebrations across the country. It affirmed locals’ belief that God was helping the team.
Associated Press photographers were there from the start to the finish to capture all the drama, pride and passion.
The supporters helped create a vibrant spectacle with ceaseless dancing to drumbeats and vocal support. Many painted themselves in their countries’ bright colors, others wore costumes, and a festival feeling developed among rival fans.
The same could not be said of accredited media at the tournament. The Confederation of African Football condemned journalists’ “unbecoming and unprofessional” behavior after several fights among media around games and inappropriate celebrations in the media tribune.
Few could have imagined Ivory Coast reaching the final after a humiliating 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea left it on the brink of elimination. But highly unlikely results in other groups favored the home team. Ghana’s late collapse — conceding two goals in injury time to Mozambique — and a subsequent win for Morocco over Zambia meant Ivory Coast squeezed into the knockout round.
South Africa’s goalkeeper Ronwen Williams saves a penalty from Cape Verde’s Bebé during a penalty shootout at the end of the African Cup of Nations quarter final soccer match between Cape Verde and South Africa, at the Charles Konan Banny stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Credit: AP/Themba Hadebe
It prompted the Ivorian soccer federation, which had…
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