“Twelve months following his recovery from cancer treatment, Sébastien Haller stands poised to potentially lead Ivory Coast to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations.
“In ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — Twelve months after completing cancer treatment, Sébastien Haller is poised to potentially lead Ivory Coast to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Haller propelled the host nation into Sunday’s final against three-time champion Nigeria by scoring the only goal in a 1-0 triumph over Congo in the semifinals.
”It’s an incredible moment to be here today, discussing the final, about the Africa Cup being held in your own country,” Haller remarked on Saturday. ”I’m savoring the experience. I hope to enjoy tomorrow’s match as well. But I believe it will take me a few months or even years to fully comprehend what has transpired over the past few years.”
The semifinal clash against Congo marked Haller’s first start of the tournament, following two substitute appearances, as he recuperated from an ankle injury that sidelined him during the group stage.
However, this isn’t Haller’s first comeback, and certainly not his most significant.
Haller endured a six-month absence from soccer starting in mid-2022 after being diagnosed with testicular cancer shortly after joining Borussia Dortmund from Ajax Amsterdam. He underwent two surgeries and endured four cycles of chemotherapy, spending five days in a hospital bed for each cycle.
He resumed training in January of the following year and played a crucial role in Dortmund’s Bundesliga title pursuit, scoring crucial goals. Despite his efforts, Bayern Munich ultimately clinched the title on the final day, narrowly edging out Haller’s side.
“Now, Haller finds himself with yet another opportunity – courtesy of Ivory Coast’s unexpected journey to the final.
The 29-year-old striker’s decisive goal against Congo is merely the latest chapter in a remarkable narrative, as the host nation has oscillated between triumph and despair, ultimately persevering to reach the final for the fifth time.
Haller emphasized his focus on living in the moment and not getting ahead of himself.
”Undoubtedly, the past one and a half years have presented numerous challenges for me, my family, and everyone involved,” he expressed. ”It seems that no matter what plans you make, unforeseen events occur. Therefore, I approach each day step by step. I strive to relish every moment, make decisions without regrets.”
In the matches against Congo, as well as in the minutes he played during the knockout games versus Senegal and Mali, Haller provided Ivory Coast with a focal point in attack, a presence that was notably absent in his absence.
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — A year after completing cancer treatment, Sébastien Haller is on the verge of potentially leading Ivory Coast to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Haller secured the host nation’s place in Sunday’s final against three-time champion Nigeria by netting the sole goal in a 1-0 triumph over Congo in the semifinals.
”Today is a great moment to be here, discussing the final, the Africa Cup, especially on home soil,” Haller remarked on Saturday. ”I’m simply relishing the experience. I hope tomorrow will be just as enjoyable. However, I think it will take me a few months or even years to truly comprehend the events of recent years.”
The match against Congo marked Haller’s first start of the tournament, following two substitute appearances as he recovered from an ankle injury that sidelined him during the group stage.
However, this isn’t Haller’s first comeback, nor his most significant.
Haller endured a six-month absence from soccer starting in mid-2022 after being diagnosed with testicular cancer shortly after joining Borussia Dortmund from Ajax Amsterdam. He underwent two surgeries and endured four cycles of chemotherapy, spending five days in a hospital bed for each cycle.
He returned to training in January of the following year and played a crucial role in Dortmund’s Bundesliga title pursuit, scoring vital goals. Despite his efforts, Bayern Munich ultimately clinched the title on the final day.
Now, Haller finds himself with yet another opportunity — thanks to Ivory Coast’s unlikely journey to the final.
The 29-year-old forward’s goal against Congo is just the latest chapter in a remarkable narrative, as the host nation has oscillated between triumph and despair, ultimately persevering to reach the final for the fifth time.
Haller emphasized his focus on living in the moment and not getting ahead of himself.
”Undoubtedly, the past one and a half years have presented numerous challenges for me, my family, and everyone involved,” he expressed. ”It seems that no matter what plans you make, unforeseen events occur. Therefore, I approach each day step by step. I strive to relish every moment, make decisions without regrets.”
In the matches against Congo, as well as in the minutes he played during the knockout games versus Senegal and Mali, Haller provided Ivory Coast with a focal point in attack, a presence that was notably absent in his absence.
His significance to the team is evident in the prominent advertising billboards featuring him around the country.
Haller acknowledged the pressure he feels to lead the Elephants to success.
”But this is a positive pressure. Playing the Africa Cup in your own country, with numerous supporters pushing and supporting you every day, gives you the strength to perform,” Haller said. ”It’s a beautiful thing. And I hope that this positive pressure will propel my country to the top.”
Ivory Coast is aiming for its third title after previous triumphs in 1992 and 2015.