Ivory Coast star striker Sebastien Haller has admitted to feeling the pressure of being the one to lead his nation to their third Africa Cup of Nations title as they prepare to face Nigeria in the final.
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The 29-year-old is the focal point of the Elephants' attack at this continental showpiece and has illustrated it ever since returning to the teams starting XI.
The Borussia Dortmund man did not play in his national team's opening three matches at the tournament as he was nursing an ankle injury, but his return as a starter has coincidence with the team producing arguably their best performance in the semi-final against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
His second half volley against the Leopards ensured that the host nation now have the opportunity to add a third African title, matching Nigeria's tally of AFCON championships, as a 1-0 win in Abidjan secured them a birth in the final.
Haller is a popular figure in Ivory Coast's economic capital, with the forward's face plastered on a plethora of advertisements in the city and when Soccer Laduma quizzed him on whether he feels the pressure to be the one that leads his team to another African title, he said: "Of course I feel the pressure, I am the striker.
"I really love scoring goals and taking my team forward during the game. So yeah, I feel it but this pressure needs to be taken by everyone and of course, this is how football works.
"Strikers are the ones with a lot of expectation but this is a good pressure, but there are people who push me and support me everyday, so it gives me strength perform.
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"It's a beautiful thing and I really hope that this pressure will help take my country to the top."
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