Nigeria crowned African champions

Yobo and team mates celebrating with the trophy .

 

Nigeria ended a 19-year wait to regain the African Nations Cup when a stunning goal from forward Sunday Mba gave them a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in a final the Super Eagles deserved to win at Soccer City on Sunday

The 24-year-old, who plays in the domestic league with Warri Wolves but looks destined for greater things, struck after 40 minutes when the ball bounced off a defender following a shot from the always-dangerous Victor Moses.

The ball fell into Mba's path as he advanced on goal, and displaying a flash of inspiration, he flicked it over defender Mohamed Koffi then reacted quickest to score with his other foot as Bakary Kone closed in.

Mba's flick into the far corner of goalkeeper Daouda Diakite's net sent the Nigerian fans in the near 90 000-crowd into raptures and followed his excellent winner in last Sunday's 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Ivory Coast.

Burkina Faso, who defied the odds to reach the final for the first time, seemed over-awed by the occasion until the last 20 minutes when they threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, but Nigeria, with John Obi Mikel dominating in midfield and Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose and Kenneth Omeruo in control at the back, always held the upper hand.

The nearest Burkina came to scoring was when Prejuce Nakoulma sent a fierce shot goalwards after 73 minutes but Nigerian keeper Vincent Enyeama made a superb stop.

Before the match, Burkina were given a huge boost when Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials rescinded the red card shown to winger Jonathan Pitroipa in the semifinal allowing him to play in the final. However, he was marshalled throughout the match by Ambrose and Omeruo and had little influence.