Ivory Coast players given villas and over 12 million each in bonuses for AFCON triumph
13th February 2024
The coach Emerse Fae was given twice the amount players recieved
- Ivory Coast's success saw them add this year's title to those claimed in 1992 and 2015, while this win also allowed them to join Nigeria on three Cup of Nations triumphs overall.
- They became the first host country to win the AFCON since 2006.
- It marked an incredible achievement for a side that was on the brink of elimination and only qualified to the knockouts after sneaking in as the fourth best third-placed team.
Ivory Coast players and their coach Emerse Fae were given bonus payments and villas during a presidential ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate their Africa Cup of Nations victory as hosts.
The Elephants beat Nigeria 2-1 in Sunday's final to lift the continental crown for the third time.
Each member of the squad was given 50 million CFA francs (Ksh 12,736,928) and a villa of the same value.
Coach Fae received 100 million CFA francs (Ksh 25,473,856) for masterminding a remarkable turnaround after replacing the sacked Jean-Louis Gasset midway through the tournament following a 4-0 group-stage defeat by Equatorial Guinea.
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"You have brought happiness to all Ivorians, bravo, bravo," said Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara.
The players were all also awarded the national order, the highest public distinction in the country.
Sebastien Haller scored a dramatic late winner as hosts Ivory Coast fought back to beat Victor Osimhen's Nigeria 2-1 in Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations final and complete the most remarkable of major tournament turnarounds by claiming their third continental title.
Nigeria looked set to repeat their 1-0 victory over the Ivorians here at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium during the group stage when captain William Troost-Ekong - who had netted a penalty to decide that first meeting - rose to head in the opener late in the first half.
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However, Franck Kessie equalized just after the hour mark and Haller turned in Simon Adingra's cross in the 81st minute to spark wild celebrations among the sea of orange in the Abidjan stands.
Ivory Coast's success sees them add this year's title to those claimed in 1992 and 2015, while this win also allows them to join Nigeria on three Cup of Nations triumphs overall.
Spearheaded by reigning African player of the year Osimhen, the Nigerians had looked the most formidable team in the competition over the last month.
But Ivory Coast's sense of destiny was simply too overpowering, as they became the first host country to win the AFCON since 2006.
“It is greater than a fairytale. I am struggling to take it all in. When I think about all we have been through, the difficult moments, moments when we were behind, when we came back in the last minute of games. We are miracle survivors,” said coach Emerse Fae, who took over a stricken team mid-tournament.
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