Côte d’Ivoire youngster, Simon Adingra, has been named the Best Young Player of the Tournament at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Ghana-based Right to Dreams Academy graduate proved decisive for the Elephants from the knockout phase and came up big for the host nation with two assists in the final match against Nigeria to see his team come from behind and win 2-1 to lift the title.
Throughout the tournament, Adingra has scored one goal and provided two assists, all coming in the final.
In the final on Saturday, William Troost-Ekong put Nigeria ahead seven minutes from the break with a powerful header from a corner situation.
Franck Kessie nodded in the equaliser in the 62nd minute when he was left unmarked at the back post from Adingra's corner.
Adingra again put in a dangerous cross from the left for Sebastian Haller to net the winner.
After a remarkable run to the final, which included the departure of coach Jean-Louis Gasset after two defeats in the group stage, the Ivorians clinched a third continental title with a deserved victory.
The West Africans add to their previous Nations Cup wins in 1992 and 2015 and become the first tournament hosts to triumph since Egypt lifted the trophy in 2006.
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