Super
Eagles of Nigeria won their third AFCON title with a brilliant
performance over Stallions of Burkina Faso in Soccer City Stadium on
Sunday. Warri Wolves playmaker,Sunday Mba netted the solitary strike of the match with a wonderful solo effort five minutes before the break after a period of pressure saw Burkina Faso, competing in their first final, succumb to Stephen Okechukwu Keshi tutored boys.
Japan-based Wilfried Sanou was inches from making the match even in the 74th minute,but stand-in skipper Vincent Enyeama kept his cool to save.
Nigeria were trying to break the charm of table toppers winning the AFCON since 1996.They didn't disappoint their teaming fans.
It was the Super Eagles first AFCON final since 2000 but they were bookies choice ahead of the match against the minnows from west Africa due to their 12-game unbeaten record.
Team boss,Stephen Okechukwu Keshi became only the second man to win the cup as a gaffer and player,emulating the Legendary Egyptian Mahmoud Al Gohari.
The Super Eagles signalled their intention early, with wave after wave of attack which pegged Burkina Faso back into their own half for the majority of the first 45 minutes.
Celtic star,Efe Ambrose,the brightest Nigerian player,had the first chance of the match when he headed wide from Victor Moses’ free-kick in the seventh minute,before Burkina Faso goalie Daouda Diakite almost made a disastrous howler moments later.He spilled a cross but Brown Ideye failed to capitalise.The Dynamo Kiev man fired wide.
Rennes winger,Jonathan Pitroipa, who had his red card from the last match against Ghana cancelled, made a dangerous run from right, only for the resulting corner to be easily neutralised by the deadly pair of boabona and Omeruo.
Ikechukwu Uche’s excellent turn on edge of box was miscued by Brown Ideye.
In the 40th minute, Victor Moses’ shot was blocked and fell to Sunday Mba, who brilliant screwed his marker and sent a low shot which left Diakite stranded in goal.
The second-half began with Nigeria almost doubling their lead two minutes after the break when the reliable Moses played Ideye through.The former Ocean Boys star was unable to get enough angle on his strike and flashed it across the face of goal.
CSKA Moscow dashing winger,Ahmed Musa was introduced to add the needed pace to Eagles attacking concept.
In the 60th minute, a perfect run by Musa was met by Victor Moses,who wasted a golden chance to score on the counter-attack.
Time was running out for the Stallions.Coach Put introduced Dagano to add bite to the attack.They almost netted the equaliser with the hardworking Kenneth Omeruo on hand to clear in the 87th minute.
The explosive battle in Johannesburg ended one-nil with the Nigeria side praising their creator,for an AFCON win, the first time in 19 years.
In the 40th minute, Victor Moses’ shot was blocked and fell to Sunday Mba, who brilliant screwed his marker and sent a low shot which left Diakite stranded in goal.
The second-half began with Nigeria almost doubling their lead two minutes after the break when the reliable Moses played Ideye through.The former Ocean Boys star was unable to get enough angle on his strike and flashed it across the face of goal.
CSKA Moscow dashing winger,Ahmed Musa was introduced to add the needed pace to Eagles attacking concept.
In the 60th minute, a perfect run by Musa was met by Victor Moses,who wasted a golden chance to score on the counter-attack.
Time was running out for the Stallions.Coach Put introduced Dagano to add bite to the attack.They almost netted the equaliser with the hardworking Kenneth Omeruo on hand to clear in the 87th minute.
The explosive battle in Johannesburg ended one-nil with the Nigeria side praising their creator,for an AFCON win, the first time in 19 years.
No comments:
Post a Comment