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Sunday 10 February 2013

Nigeria 1 Burkina Faso 0: Mba's fine strike ends 19 years of hurt as Super Eagles win third Africa Cup of Nations title


Nigeria ended a 19-year wait to regain the Africa Nations Cup after a stunning goal from winger Sunday Mba gave them a deserved 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in the final at Soccer City.
The 24-year-old, who also scored the winner in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Ivory Coast, struck after 40 minutes when the ball bounced off a defender and into his path as he advanced on goal.
Mba flicked it over defender Mohamed Koffi then reacted quickest to score with his other footpast goalkeeper Daouda Diakite's for a contender for goal of the tournament.


Underdogs Burkina Faso, in the final for the first time, seemed over-awed by the occasion, which was played out in front of a near 90,000 capacity crowd, until the last 20 minutes when they threw everything forward in search of an equaliser.

But Nigeria with John Mikel Oki superb in midfield and Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo and Elderson Echiejile dominant at the back always held the upper hand.

The victory meant Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi became only the second man to win the tournament as player and coach. It was a third African title for Nigeria and their first since Keshi captained them to victory in 1994.

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