The player, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, was observed sitting on the bench for Côte d’Ivoire during the AFCON final, contravening CAF regulations. The pertinent rules state:
“Any nation found to have included an ineligible player in the championship match is subject to the cancellation of the match or expulsion.”
Ultimately, despite this violation, the hosts emerged victorious over Nigeria with a score of 2-1, thanks to a goal by Haller.
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In response to this incident, CAF released a statement, stating:
“Ivory Coast fielded an ineligible player, prompting us to notify them that the match must be replayed. We deemed a rematch more appropriate than awarding Nigeria the trophy. Later today, we will announce the final’s rescheduled time and date.”