AFCON 2015: Ex-Nigeria Star Oliseh Tips Ivory Coast To Win Title

Former Nigeria skipper Sunday Oliseh has tipped Cote d�Ivoire as favourites to win Sunday�s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final, but warned Ghana�s chances can also not be dismissed. It will be a dream final between two highly talented teams who have failed to be champions of Africa for a long time � Ghana last won the tournament 33 years ago and Cote d�Ivoire have not landed the trophy since 1992. Oliseh, who won the Nations Cup in 1994 and was only denied a repeat by Cameroon in the 2000 final, said the Elephants will go into Sunday�s final in the port city of Bata as top dogs but must also be wary of an impressive Black Stars especially in a championship game. �Cote d�Ivoire is clear favorite to win the final and if I didn�t know better I would tip them to be crowned Champions come final day. Finals are the most difficult to predict in soccer,� said Oliseh in an analysis he published on his personal website. �Player for player Cote d�Ivoire have better individual players as Ghana and they are playing better as a team now especially when they are not in possession. �A better regrouping defensively and a constant change of pace with bursts of speed forwards from the midfield that is so well complimented by Wilfried Bony�s strength and versatility in front is quite remarkable and worth taking into consideration by Ghana.� However, the former Nigeria World Cup star said he has been equally impressed by Ghana at Equatorial Guinea 2015. �Ghana are quite impressive and in (Christian) Atsu and the Ayew brothers (Andre and Jordan) are quite becoming unpredictable and champion material,� Oliseh rated. �They go into this final as underdogs but with less pressure, unlike Cote d�Ivoire, due to the fact that not many would have bet on them coming this far when the tournament kicked off. �Ghana�s key to victory depends on how they are able play compact and deny the Ivorian�s room, try to dictate the tempo of the game and their nerves.� He predicted this final between Africa�s best two teams could well be decided by a mistake on the day. �It is a final and near impossible to predict as Africa�s two best teams of the moment trade tackles. It is just one game of 90 minutes (plus a possible extra time of 30 minutes) and one lack of concentration from a free kick could just make the difference,� he forecast.