The highly-anticipated final of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations is set to feature tournament favorites Nigeria against Ivory Coast this Sunday at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan.

This encounter marks the second meeting between the West African giants in the ongoing tournament, with the Super Eagles securing a 1-0 victory on matchday two in the group stage, thanks to William Troost-Ekong’s match-winning penalty in the 55th minute.

With three wins for Nigeria and two for Ivory Coast in their AFCON history, the teams clash once again, with Nigeria aiming for their fourth Africa Cup of Nations title.

A key player expected to play a crucial role in the final is the reigning African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen.

Arsenal legend Emmanuel Eboue, a five-time Africa Cup of Nations participant with Ivory Coast, has issued a warning to the Elephants regarding the threat posed by Osimhen in tonight’s final. Eboue has drawn comparisons between the Super Eagles’ number 9 and Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba.

In an interview with Sportblog247.com on the eve of the final, Eboue remarked, “He reminds me of Drogba. He has a bit of the same style. Drogba gave his all, weighed heavily on the defense, and Osimhen does the same. For a defender, playing against this kind of attacker is difficult; you don’t know what he’s going to do. When a defender has the ball, he presses it at every moment.”

While Osimhen has scored one goal in the ongoing tournament, he has registered an impressive 24 shots, surpassing all other players at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. This total is nine more than Ivory Coast midfielder Seko Mohamed Fofana, who holds the team’s highest figure of fifteen shots.