Nigeria vs Ivory Coast Prediction and Betting Tips: Best bets for AFCON Final

Hosts and two-time tournament winners Ivory Coast take on three-time victors Nigeria at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé in the 2023 AFCON Final on Sunday night, live on BBC Three and Sky Sports at 8pm.

Below, we've previewed the match and provided our two best bets.

Ivory Coast and Nigeria will lock horns for the second time this tournament, having previously faced off in the group stages, with Nigeria recording a 1-0 win thanks to a second-half penalty from former Watford player William Troost-Ekong.

Both progressed to the knockout stages, yet neither would finish top of Group A. Nigeria came runners-up with seven points, behind surprise winners Equatorial Guinea, while the Ivory Coast scrapped through in third spot with three points.

Ivory Coast would sack their manager Jean-Louis Gasset and appoint Emerse Faé ahead of the knockout stages. The former Reading midfielder has overseen a significant improvement, steering his side to a penalty shoot-out victory over holders Senegal, an extra-time 2-1 win over Mali, and then a narrow 1-0 victory over DR Congo in the semi-finals thanks to a goal from Sebastien Haller. 

As for Nigeria, they defeated Cameroon and Angola in 90 minutes, before dramatically defeating South Africa on penalties to progress through to their eighth final and first since 2013.

There's little separating the finalists in the outright betting to lift the trophy, with Nigeria 4/5 and Ivory Coast 19/20. In the match odds market, Nigeria are priced at 37/20, and the Ivory Coast are 41/19, with a draw available at 2/1 (all 90 minutes).

Nigeria can draw confidence from their group stage win over Ivory Coast, yet history tells us that five of the last six host nations to reach the final have gone on to win.

Nigeria has been the better team this tournament, but Ivory Coast have recovered from their group stage blip to surge to an unlikely final, where they hold home advantage - as mentioned five of the last six home nation finalists have lifted the trophy.

Three of the last six AFCON finals have been all level after normal time and we're backing this outcome once again at 2/1 with BetGoodwin.

Ivory Coast have already gone past 90 minutes on two occasions, in the penalty shoot-out triumph over Senegal and the extra-time victory over Mali. Remarkably, all four of their previous AFCON finals have been goalless throughout normal time and extra time. They've gone on to win two and lose two penalty shoot-outs.

Nigeria have also had the nerve-jangling experience on penalties in their semi-final success over South Africa,

You can find odds of 4/1 (Sky Bet) for either country to win the final on penalties.

Victor Osimhen hasn't been at his goalscoring best so far, having failed to add to his tally since scoring in the opening game. Although he'll no doubt be aggrieved that his last-minute goal was ruled out in that dramatic semi-final against South Africa.

The best players step up to the plate at the most important moments and what better occasion to showcase your supreme eye for goal than in the AFCON Final.

We'll be teaming up a goal for the Napoli star in 90 minutes with an overall victory for Nigeria via any means: whether that's in 90 minutes, extra-time, or penalties.

Nigeria are unbeaten in six matches this tournament and have already beaten the Ivory Coast once already.

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