The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled the 11 goals shortlisted for the 2024 Goal of the Year award, to be celebrated at its prestigious ceremony next month, Soccernet.ng reports.
While the Super Eagles of Nigeria played 16 matches on African soil this year — winning eight and scoring 17 goals — none of their strikes made the cut for CAF’s elite list.
However, one of the goals that Nigeria conceded did: Sebastien Haller’s spectacular winner in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
The decisive goal, which broke millions of Nigerian hearts, came during Cote d’Ivoire’s 2-1 victory over the Super Eagles at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan last February.
Nigeria, buoyed by a group-stage victory over the hosts, entered the final with confidence. When captain William Troost-Ekong gave the Super Eagles the lead in the 38th minute, dreams of a fourth AFCON title looked within reach.
But the Ivorians roared back.
Former AC Milan star Franck Kessie equalised just past the hour mark, shifting momentum firmly in favour of the Elephants.
The hammer blow came nine minutes from time when Haller latched onto a pinpoint Simon Adingra cross, outwitting Troost-Ekong to toe-poke the ball past Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
The audacious goal crowned Cote d’Ivoire as African champions and has since been hailed as one of the finest moments of the year.
Tragically, reports emerged that the heartbreak caused by Nigeria’s loss contributed to a few untimely deaths.
Following the inclusion of Haller’s strike, Nigerian fans may feel aggrieved at the omission of Paul Onuachu’s sensational Super Lig goal for Trabzonspor, which made FIFA’s Best Goal shortlist but failed to crack CAF’s lineup.
Still, Nigerian football remains well-represented in other categories.
Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman is a frontrunner for the CAF Player of the Year award, Stanley Nwabali is a contender for Goalkeeper of the Year, and Super Falcons star Rasheedat Ajibade is in the running for the Women’s Player of the Year accolade.
