Côte d’Ivoire youngster, Simon Adingra, was crowned the Best Young Player of the Tournament at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The enterprising Ivorian teen sensation was a delight to watch in the finals as he caught the eyes of many at the stadium and beyond with his dazzling skillset, and mazy runs, which was a consistent worry for the Nigeria defense in the entirety of the game.
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It was least surprising that he got the first real opportunity of the game in the 8th minute but his shot was equally dealt with by the towering Stanley Nwabili.
Nigeria went ahead through, Greece defender, William Troost-Ekong’s thumping header minutes before the end of the first half of the final giving the traveling side the lead.
Franck Kessie was at the right place at the right time in the 62nd minute as he got on to the end of a perfectly weighted cross from Simon Adingra’s corner.
The young sensation who had his elementary football training with Ghana’s Right to Dreams Academy made light work of Ola Aina as he went past him to tee up Sebastian Haller for the match-winner.
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The 22-year-old was involved in three goal contributions in five games for the host.
The win sees Côte d’Ivoire, the first country after Egypt in 2006 to do a host and win as well as their third trophy after their earlier ones came in 1992 and 2015.
