Nigeria end 19-year Afcon trophy drought
12 Feb 2013 2:05 AM GMT
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 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 $1.5 million first prize and a place at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, where they will face world and European champions Spain, Tahiti and Uruguay.
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.
Winning 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. 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.
The Mba goal gave the Super Eagles a deserved 1-0 half-time lead that followed a predictable script with Nigeria dominating possession and scoring chances while the Faso relied largely on counter-attacks.
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 $1.5 million first prize and a place at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, where they will face world and European champions Spain, Tahiti and Uruguay.
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.
Winning 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. 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.
The Mba goal gave the Super Eagles a deserved 1-0 half-time lead that followed a predictable script with Nigeria dominating possession and scoring chances while the Faso relied largely on counter-attacks.
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