The stage was set on February 11, 2024, as Nigeria’s Super Eagles faced hosts Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
It was the culmination of four weeks of intense emotions, especially for the Elephants, who barely survived the group stage and even sacked their coach along the way.
Their Cinderella story saw them claw their way back into contention, setting up a final that, just a week earlier, seemed highly unlikely.
Interim coach Emerse Faé revitalized the team, leading them to an unexpected showdown with Nigeria—a side that wasn’t among the top favourites at the start of the tournament.
On their part, Jose Peseiro and his Super Eagles worked tirelessly from their 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in the group stage to navigate the knockout rounds, eliminating Cameroon, Angola, and South Africa before setting up a tantalizing final against the hosts.
Despite taking the lead through William Troost-Ekong, Nigeria fell 2-1, missing a golden opportunity to claim a fourth AFCON title. But what if things had played out differently?
What if Peseiro had released the handbrakes?
There’s a saying: If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.
It seems Jose Peseiro stuck to this philosophy in the final, persisting with the 3-5-2 formation that emphasized defensive solidity and counter-attacking—a system that had worked throughout the tournament.
After all, Nigeria had beaten Ivory Coast 1-0 with the same approach in the group stage.
But what if he had changed tactics?
With Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman leading the attack, Nigeria always had the firepower to trouble the hosts. Given the occasion, a more aggressive, attacking approach might have put the Elephants on the back foot.
Instead, Nigeria played cautiously, allowing Ivory Coast to dominate possession and dictate the tempo.
What if there was a tactical or personnel change for the Super Eagles?
One of Nigeria’s biggest struggles in the final was on the right side of defence, where Ola Aina had an unusually difficult night. He was constantly troubled by Samuel Adingra who found space time and again.
It later emerged that Aina played through injury, which may have affected his performance.
Perhaps a fully fit Bright Osayi-Samuel would have been a better option.
The same applies to Troost-Ekong, who was also nursing an injury but played through the pain.
Adingra ultimately set up the winning goal for Sébastien Haller, exploiting space on the right flank and delivering a perfect cross.
Had Peseiro reacted earlier to the Ivory Coast’s growing dominance on that side, maybe the outcome would have been different.
Could Nwabali have done better for Ivory Coast’s equaliser?
For Stanley Nwabali, AFCON 2024 was a breakout tournament.
However, in the final, his decision-making for Ivory Coast’s equaliser raised questions.
As Franck Kessié rose to meet a cross, Nwabali stepped forward before retreating, ultimately getting a hand to the ball but failing to keep it out.
If he had stayed on his line instead of advancing, could he have been in a better position to save the header?
It’s a tough call, but had he stopped Kessié’s goal, it might have boosted Nigeria’s confidence and helped them hold firm under pressure.
Instead, the equaliser appeared to break the Eagles’ resolve, paving the way for the hosts to score a second and snatch the trophy.
A title that slipped away
Football is a game of fine margins, and in a match as crucial as the AFCON final, small decisions can make a world of difference.
Whether it was Peseiro’s tactics, Aina’s injury, defensive lapses, or Nwabali’s positioning, the Super Eagles were left wondering what if?
In the end, Ivory Coast celebrated their third AFCON title, while Nigeria was left to reflect on a golden opportunity missed.
