Sebastien Haller’s crucial goal, propelling Ivory Coast into the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, not only revived the Elephants’ hopes of an improbable triumph but also added another remarkable chapter to the striker’s own extraordinary story.
After teetering on the edge of a group-stage exit and orchestrating a dramatic journey to the semi-finals, Ivory Coast now stands on the cusp of their third continental title. Sebastien Haller, who netted the decisive goal against DR Congo, expressed the team’s belief in their potential and their ongoing efforts to address initial shortcomings in the competition. Reflecting on their progress, Haller emphasized the abundance of quality on the field and the team’s dedication to refining their performance.
The Ivorian squad is set to face Nigeria in the final in Abidjan on Sunday (20:00 GMT), marking a remarkable turnaround for Haller, who faced a significant health challenge just over a year ago. Despite scoring his first goal for Borussia Dortmund amid celebration, Haller’s journey was overshadowed by a testicular cancer diagnosis two weeks after joining the Bundesliga side in July 2022. In the face of adversity, Haller’s resilience and the support of his medical team enabled him to return to the pitch professionally and contribute to Ivory Coast’s AFCON success.
Sebastien Haller’s resilient journey included his return to full training in early January 2023 after undergoing two surgeries and enduring rounds of chemotherapy. Making his debut later that month, Haller marked his comeback with a goal against Freiburg on World Cancer Day, a poignant moment in his recovery. Fast forward to this January, and a milder ankle injury temporarily sidelined the former West Ham and Eintracht Frankfurt forward, preventing him from participating in Ivory Coast’s initial 2023 Nations Cup matches.
Despite missing the squad’s first three games due to his ankle injury, Haller’s return became a pivotal moment for the Elephants, especially following a challenging group stage with two losses, including a historic 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea – the heaviest ever home loss in both Nations Cup history and for Ivory Coast.
According to reports from the BBC Ivory Coast’s decision to dismiss coach Jean-Louis Gasset was followed by their narrow qualification for the knockout rounds as the best third-placed side. Sebastien Haller acknowledged the team’s challenging journey, emphasizing the necessity of difficult moments and conversations following a significant defeat to Equatorial Guinea. Haller’s return proved crucial, especially considering Ivory Coast’s struggle to score in the group stage. The striker, known for his remarkable achievements in the Champions League with Ajax, holds distinctions such as being the second player, after Cristiano Ronaldo, to score in all six group games in 2021-22 and becoming the fastest to reach 10 Champions League goals in history, surpassing the Portuguese forward.
Sebastien Haller acknowledged the impactful role of the crowd, emphasizing how the public’s support and noise make a significant difference for the team. Born in Paris to a French father and Ivorian mother, Haller represented France at every youth level from Under-16 to Under-21. However, in 2020, he pledged his senior international future to Ivory Coast.
His decisive goal against the Leopards has now propelled Ivory Coast to their first final on home soil, setting the stage for a rematch against Nigeria, who defeated them 1-0 in the group stage just 24 days earlier. Despite the initial challenges after the group stage, the possibility of Haller contributing to Ivory Coast’s first Nations Cup title since 2015 now feels tangible, making the upcoming final a potentially memorable moment for the striker, especially considering his journey since being diagnosed with cancer just over a year and a half ago.
A rematch awaits with Nigeria, precisely 24 days after the Super Eagles secured a 1-0 victory over Ivory Coast in the group stage. Seizing the opportunity of a final, Sebastien Haller expressed determination to win, stating, “We’ll analyze everything in order to gain our revenge.” Despite the initial skepticism following the group stage, the prospect of Haller contributing to Ivory Coast’s first Nations Cup title since 2015 feels tangible and realistic.
