Speaking after the game, Ekong thanked Nigerians for their support and apologised on behalf of the team for their failure to win the title. He promised that the Eagles would come back stronger after the final game’s setback.
Other award winners at the end of the championship are South Africa’s Romwen Williams, who beat Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali to the Ecobank goalkeeper of the competition. Equatorial Guinea’s Emilio Nsue won the Puma Golden Boot award, and Angola’s Gelaon Dala won the Silver Ball.
Simon Adingra and Emerson Fae, both of Côte d’Ivoire, won the Best Young Player and Best Coach of the tournament awards, respectively.
