The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Haller

  • Haller banks on fans support against Nigeria

    Haller banks on fans support against Nigeria

    Cote D’ivoire forward Sebastian Haller has said their fans would play an important role in today’s game against Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the Africa Cup of Nations final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan.

    The 29-year-old was the host country’s match-winner in the semi-final against the Democratic Republic of Congo in his first start of the tournament after injury.

    Speaking ahead of the game, the striker admitted that he is under pressure to deliver in front of their fans.

    He said: “I will say Ivorians because our fans tomorrow will be more than those in the stadium; they will be on the street, at home, in the stadium and everywhere you may think of.

    Read Also: TEREM MOFFI: We came here to win the trophy, nothing less 

    “I feel the pressure because I am a striker. the strikers most of the time feel the pressure because they have to score. It is going to be a good pressure because you are playing in front of your home fans and I hope this good pressure will bring success to the team.”

    “I’m expecting a tough game obviously, we also know how the Nigerians play,” Haller stated at his pre-match press conference at Palais de la Culture, Abidjan.

  • AFCON: Cote d’Ivoire’s Haller vows to avenge group stage loss against Nigeria in final

    AFCON: Cote d’Ivoire’s Haller vows to avenge group stage loss against Nigeria in final

    Sebastian Haller, Ivory Coast forward, has vowed to revenge their defeat against Nigeria in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations group stage by triumphing over Super Eagles in the final showdown between the two Group A teams.

    The Super Eagles are set to take on the Elephants of Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations final in Abidjan on Sunday, February 11.

    Nigeria secured a 1-0 victory over the host nation earlier in the tournament, courtesy of William Troost-Ekong’s second-half penalty in the group stage encounter.

    Read Also: Haller sets up Elephants, Eagles AFCON Final

    According to BeIn SPORTS, Haller stated that the Elephants will seek retribution and the trophy this time around.

    “We are playing the (AFCON final) final against Nigeria. It is a great nation. It is heavy. They beat us in the group stage.

    “But we are already motivated to go and lift the trophy on Sunday in this stadium in front of the Ivorian people. We have revenge to take on Nigeria,” Haller told BeIn SPORTS.

  • AFCON: Cote d’Ivoire striker Haller to miss Guinea Bissau opener

    AFCON: Cote d’Ivoire striker Haller to miss Guinea Bissau opener

    The head coach of the Cote d’Ivoire  national team, Jean-Louis Gassée, has shared insights on Borussia Dortmund’s Sébastien Haller’s injury situation, as reported by Soccernet.ng.

    The Elephants are gearing up for the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, where they will face Guinea-Bissau in the opening match without the former France youth international, who is sidelined due to injury.

    Read Also: Yemi Alade to perform at AFCON, says it is a dream come true

    In a press conference ahead of the clash at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, commonly known as the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé, Gassée informed Soccernet.ng that Haller will miss the Guinea-Bissau match but might be fit for the encounter against Nigeria.

    “Tomorrow [Saturday], Sébastien Haller will not be available for Guinea-Bissau’s match, and with a five-day break, I believe he will return with the squad,” he told Soccernet.ng.

    Gassée revealed that Haller is working hard to recover, expressing hope that the striker can play a significant role in the clash against Nigeria.

    “He has been training hard with other players facing similar problems, and we are hopeful he will be useful for the next games,” he said.

    Nigeria is also grappling with injuries, resulting in key players like Victor Boniface, Sadiq Umar, and Wilfred Ndidi making early exits from the squad ahead of the tournament.