List of players who won individual awards at concluded 2023 AFCON
12th February 2024
No player from Ivory Coast managed to scoop an individual award despite their success.
- Ivory Coast won the title after coming from behind to beat Nigeria 2-1.
- The success sees them add this year's title to those claimed in 1992 and 2015, while the 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.
The delayed 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) ended
in style on Sunday, February 11 with hosts Ivory Coast lifting the coveted trophy.
The Elephants produced a brilliant comeback to beat
pre-match favorites Nigeria 2-1 at the iconic Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium
domiciled in Abidjan.
Super Eagles’ defender William Troost-Ekong had put Nigeria ahead
in the 38th minute but two second-half goals from Franck Kessie and Borussia
Dortmund forward Sebastian Haller ensured the trophy remained in Ivory
Coast.
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Haller, who recently survived testicular cancer, scored the
winner in the 81st minute after receiving a pinpoint cross from Brighton &
Hove Albion winger Simon Adingra to send the fully packed stadium into a
frenzy.
The success was sweeter since it made the Ivoirians equal
the number of AFCON titles that Nigeria has won in the history of the
continental showpiece.
Despite the memorable win, no player from the Elephants team
managed to scoop an individual award.
Here is the list of stars who won individual awards at the
34th edition of one of the most difficult tournaments in the world.
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title
Player of the tournament
Nigeria skipper Troost-Ekong was awarded the best player of
the tournament for the compelling display he showed since the start of the
tournament.
The reliable defender, who plays professional football for
Greek-based side PAOK FC, scored some important goals that helped the Super
Eagles reach the final. He was also solid at the back, throwing himself at
anything that came his way.
Best Goalkeeper
South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was named the best
shot stopper of the tournament and was rewarded with the Best Goalkeeper award.
The Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper was instrumental in South
Africa’s AFCON campaign, helping them reach the semifinal for the first time in
over two decades.
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Williams saved several penalties in the tournament including
four against Cape Verde which made him enter history books as the first-ever
goalkeeper to achieve that incredible feat.
Golden Boot award
Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea mercurial forward Emilio Nsue
Lopez bagged the Puma Golden Boot Award.
The 34-year-old was the tournament’s top scorer with five
goals including a hat-trick against rivals Guinea Bissau at the group stage.
Egypt’s Mostafa Mohamed and Angola’s Gelson Dala came second
with four goals each while Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman completed the list of the
top three goal scorers having hit the back of the net three times.
Finally, South Africa’s national team popularly known as
Bafana Bafana were awarded the Fair Play award by the organizers.
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List of individual winners at AFCON 2023
Total Energies Best Player: William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)
Puma Golden Boat: Emilio Nsue Lopez
Ecobank Best Goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
Fair-Play Air Côte d’Ivoire Team: South Africa