'We lost 1-0' - CIV's ex-Barcelona star Kessie hopes lightning does not strike twice in AFCON final v Nigeria 

Former Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessié is hoping lightning does not strike twice on Sunday when Ivory Coast face off with tournament favorites Nigeria in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final. 

In the first AFCON final between two West African countries since the Elephants beat the Black Stars 9-8 on penalties to win the 2015 edition of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Ivory Coast will do battle at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan.

After losses to Nigeria and dark horses Equatorial Guinea in the group stage, Ivory Coast were on the brink of elimination but have turned their tournament around, winning three games in a row to advance to the showpiece. 

Kessié is aware of the threat posed by their next opponents Nigeria having gone the distance against the three-time African champions in the group stage and has urged his teammates to remain calm ahead of the final. 

Speaking to beIN SPORTS after the win against Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday night, he said: "We all know Nigeria is a very great football nation and a very good team.

"We were in the same group and we lost 1-0 unfortunately but we still have a match on Sunday so as I emphasized it earlier today we are going to remain calm.

"We are going to savor our victory and from tomorrow with the help of the technical staff we will work and we will think about the final."

Kessié has been involved in every single game played by the Elephants at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and produced a man of the match performance to inspire the host to a 1-0 win over Democratic Republic of Congo in the semifinals. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: FIF

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