Ivory Coast players rewarded millions, villas after AFCON 2023 title triumph

Ivory Coast players have been rewarded with €76,000 (Ksh12,991,662) each, as well as a residential villa worth the same amount, for winning the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The triumphant team met President Alassane Ouattara at the presidential palace in Abidjan on Tuesday where he greeted them before rewarding them for their heroic achievements.

The Elephants displayed great resilience to stay in the tournament when they sneaked into the knockout round as the last of the four best third-placed teams and went all the way to the final where they staged a second-half comeback to defeat Nigeria 2-1 for their third continental crown.

Following a meeting with fans on Monday, it was the turn of the President to pass his congratulatory message on Tuesday and he ensured they were rewarded handsomely.

Each member of the squad was given 50 million CFA francs (€76,000) and a villa of the same value, while coach Emerse Fae, who masterminded the win, received 100 million CFA francs (Ksh25,983,324).

Fae replaced Frenchman Jean-Louis Gasset, who was sacked following two defeats at the group stage, including an embarrassing 4-0 drubbing by Equatorial Guinea, and instilled a never say die attitude into the squad.

"You have brought happiness to all Ivorians, bravo, bravo," Ouattara told the squad, as per AP.

In the final, Franck Kessie scored a 62nd minute equaliser to cancel out Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong’s 38th minute header before Sebastien Haller poked home Simon Andingira’s delicious cross and the hosts held firm to win the match and claim the title.

Ivory Coast have now won the AFCON in 1992, 2015 and 2023.