"Him playing that many games probably cost Portugal...": Ex-England international slams Cristiano Ronaldo after achieving personal milestone
Sebastien Haller’s inspirational journey, from cancer battle to AFCON glory with Ivory Coast
Sebastien Haller's last-minute goal in the final against Nigeria secured Ivory Coast their third AFCON title, adding a fairy-tale element to his remarkable comeback narrative.
![Sebastien Haller’s inspirational journey, from cancer battle to AFCON glory with Ivory Coast Sebastien Haller controls the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 semi-final football match. (Getty Images)](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240212T085226569Z612307/20240212T085226569Z612307_400_225.webp?width=180&quality=60)
Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller earned national hero status in Ivory Coast after securing their third AFCON title with a late goal against Nigeria in the final on February 12.
Nigeria surprised everyone by taking an unexpected lead against the hosts, with skipper William Troost-Ekong scoring a powerful header in the 38th minute, giving his side a crucial advantage at halftime. However, the Elephants maintained their composure despite falling behind, led by a defensive masterclass from Calvin Bassey in the early stages of the second half.
Also Read: Ivory Coast clinches AFCON title with a last-minute goal from Sebastien Haller
Ivory Coast staged a remarkable comeback with Franck Kessie's header from a Simon Adingra corner, igniting wild celebrations among the home crowd. The decisive moment arrived in the last nine minutes of the match when Haller capitalised on another Adingra cross, securing victory which they maintained until the final whistle.
HALLER'S COMEBACK STORY
Even before the Elephants stepped onto the field on Monday, Sebastien Haller was the centre of attention. Football fans worldwide were hoping for success for the player who returned to the sport just a year after being diagnosed with Testicular cancer in 2022.
2022: Haller joins Borussia Dortmund from Ajax
Following two highly successful stints with Dutch club Ajax, where he clinched two Eredivisie titles and emerged as the top goal scorer in the UEFA Champions League for his team, Sebastien Haller was signed by German club Borussia Dortmund. He was enlisted as a replacement for their star striker Erling Haaland, who had recently transferred to Manchester City.
This move was widely regarded as a crucial moment in his career, particularly because of his outstanding goal-scoring record, which positioned him among the elite on the Champions League record board alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Robert Lewandowski.
JULY 2022: Cancer diagnosis
Just two weeks into his time in Germany, while attending Dortmund's pre-season training camp in Switzerland, Haller expressed abdominal discomfort to the team doctors. Subsequently, he was referred to a urologist for further evaluation. To everyone's shock, the diagnosis revealed a testicular tumour in Haller, marking the start of his challenging road to recovery.
The 29-year-old underwent surgery to remove his cancerous testicle entirely, followed by chemotherapy. Over the next two months, Haller dedicated much of his time to hospital visits, aspiring to regain his fitness and dreaming of returning to the football field.
January 2023: Back on the field
Declared fit only in December 2022, Haller, who had been training rigorously, joined his Dortmund teammates for their pre-season camp in Spain.
On January 10, 2023, Haller returned to the football field for a friendly match between Dortmund and Fortuna Dusseldorf. Having triumphed over his toughest challenge, the player's comeback was greeted with applause from both his teammates and opponents, as well as the spectators at Marbella's Dama de Noche football center.
February 2024: Glory
During this time, Haller effectively transformed his journey into an inspiration for countless individuals facing their own challenges, regardless of their geographical location.
Haller's goal in the 81st minute of the AFCON final against a formidable Nigeria symbolised the convergence of two comeback narratives. One was his personal journey, while the other was the journey of his national team, which initially seemed unlikely to progress beyond the group stages of AFCON 2023.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
WATCH: KL Rahul drops major fitness update ahead of 3rd Test India vs England Test in Rajkot; know here
'Stop overestimating him': Ex-Australia captain Ian Chappell gives strong verdict on star India batter, urges Rohit Sharma to value THIS player
Quick Links
Popular Posts
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240906T181013063Z620307/20240906T181013063Z620307_400_225.webp)
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240906T122704308Z364366/20240906T122704308Z364366_400_225.webp)
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Argentina thrashed Chile as star player misses out due to injury
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240906T094236506Z855858/20240906T094236506Z855858_400_225.webp)
Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo gets overwhelmed with emotions after scoring 900th goal of his career during Nations League clash against Croatia
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240905T185335759Z066257/20240905T185335759Z066257_400_225.webp)
Alex Morgan retires: United States women’s national team stalwart Alex Morgan announces retirement after illustrious career
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240904T200050236Z257429/20240904T200050236Z257429_400_225.webp)
Ballon d'Or 2024: Jude Bellingham to Erling Halaand, check stars that made it into Ballon d'Or 2024 shortlist
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240904T195505773Z117051/20240904T195505773Z117051_400_225.webp)
First time in 21 years, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo snubbed from Ballon d'Or shortlist
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240904T155722168Z586223/20240904T155722168Z586223_400_225.webp)
UEFA Nations League 2024: Full Match Schedule and all you need to know, Where you can watch it in India?
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240904T145529824Z170088/20240904T145529824Z170088_400_225.webp)
UEFA Nations League - Denmark vs Switzerland: Preview, Prediction, and Betting Tips
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240904T051154046Z746808/20240904T051154046Z746808_400_225.webp)
'Boring for spectators. Good thing is this is the worst we can play': Coach Marquez after India's disappointing draw against 179th ranked Mauritius
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240903T043802555Z098213/20240903T043802555Z098213_400_225.webp)
Uruguay legend Luis Suarez announces retirement ahead of FIFA WC qualifiers clash in emotional press conference