Nigeria triumphs at Africa Cup of Nations

Nigeria ended a 19-year Africa Cup of Nations title drought Sunday with a 1-0 final victory over Burkina Faso at Soccer City thanks to a superb late first-half goal from Sunday Mba.

It was a result that took winning coach Stephen Keshi into the record books as he equalled the feat of late Egyptian Mahmoud El Gohary by winning gold medals as a player and a coach.

Among the rewards for the Super Eagles was a $1.5m first prize and a place at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, where they will face world and European champions Spain, Tahiti and Uruguay.

African champions

Nigeria conquered Africa for the first time in 1980, thrashing Algeria 3-0 in Lagos with all the goals coming before half-time, and the second title arrived 14 years later as they fought back to defeat Zambia 2-1 in Tunis.

Collecting the third title in Soweto was particularly sweet as they were robbed of the chance to defend the title there in 1996 because a political cold war with South Africa led to Nigeria withdrawing.

“Winning this is mainly for my nation – when I came on board a year-and-a-half ago my dream was to make all Nigerians happy, and to construct a great Nigerian team. We are not there yet, it’s still in process “ – Stephen Keshi, Nigeria coach

“Winning this is mainly for my nation – when I came on board a year and a half ago my dream was to make all Nigerians happy, and to construct a great Nigerian team, We are not there yet, it’s still in process,” said Keshi.

Referring to the tense final five minutes, he added: “You don’t want to know what was going through my head! To represent Africa in Brazil at the Confed Cup is an honour for Nigeria.”

Losing coach Paul Put said: “We showed Nigeria a bit too much respect in the first half – in the second half we tried to do everything possible. But you have to be big when you lose and small when you win.

“Possibly, we were a little tired after two matches that went to extra time, but I’m not going to look for excuses. The whole of Burkina Faso can be proud of their players.”

Favourites Nigeria were forced into a late pre-match change when striker and four-goal leading scorer Emmanuel Emenike was ruled out by a hamstring injury sustained in the semi-final rout of Mali and Ikechukwu Uche took his place.

Burkina Faso were able to retain the team that started against Ghana in a semi-final settled by a shoot-out after the red card given to midfielder Jonathan Pitroipa was rescinded when the referee admitted he erred.

It was only the third time the countries have met in the 56-year competition with Nigeria beating then-Upper Volta 4-2 in 1978 and Burkina Faso snatching a stoppage-time 1-1 draw in a Nelspruit group game last month.

The Mba goal gave the Super Eagles a deserved 1-0 half-time lead after 45 minutes that followed a predictable script with Nigeria dominating possession and chances while the Burkinabe underdogs relied largely on counter-attacks.

Mba, one of two home-based stars in the starting line-up, struck on 40 minutes with a penalty-box flick over Mohamed Koffi and a left-foot shot that flew into the far corner past stranded goalkeeper Daouda Diakite.

It was an opportunist goal by Mba and his second of the tournament, having struck a superb match-winner in the 2-1 quarter-final defeat of pre-tournament title favourites Ivory Coast.

Previous winners

1990: Algeria  1992: Ivory Coast  1994: Nigeria  1996: South Africa  1998: Egypt  2000: Cameroon  2002: Cameroon  2004: Tunisia  2006: Egypt  2008: Egypt  2010: Egypt  2012: Zambia  2013: Nigeria

Nigeria should have taken the lead much earlier as Diakite spilled a cross on 10 minutes into the path of Brown Ideye, whose shot at an unguarded goal was too high.

A combination of Nigerian midfield creativity and a couple of defensive howlers from the Burkinabe offered several half chances to the Super Eagles that were squandered.

Attacking mentality

The early second-half exchanges mirrored the first period with the Nigerians pressing for a second goal that would leave opponents fielding a lone striker in Aristide Bance with a mountain to scale.

Diakiate did well to push away a hard, low Ideye cross-cum-shot and Moses should have done better in a two-on-one situation that favoured the Eagles only to timidly surrender the ball with the Burkinabe goal in sight.

Although Spain-based Uche was a goal-scoring star of the qualifying campaign, he was making no impact on the final and gave way to Ahmed Musa nine minutes after half-time.

There was another Nigerian substitution not long after – this time enforced – with full-back Elderson Echiejile limping off to be replaced by Juwon Oshaniwa, while the Burkinabe introduced Wilfried Sanou for Florent Rouamba.

As the game moved into the final quarter there were chances at both ends with unmarked Musa slipping as he was poised to shoot inside the box and a Sanou drive at the other end finishing just wide of the far post.