Nigerians frustrated by years of waiting for their football team to again play to its potential erupted with screams of joy and celebration on Sunday as the country clinched the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
Thousands who gathered near the national stadium in Lagos, the largest city of Africa's most populous nation, to watch the final on two big screens hugged one another, danced with abandon and held plastic chairs aloft.
They counted down the final seconds and fireworks exploded above them after the 1-0 win by their Super Eagles over Burkina Faso was assured, giving the country its first Nations Cup title since 1994.
The crowd included some dressed in traditional Yoruba robes and hats, supporters painted in the national colours of green and white, and of course many with Nigerian flags.
Soccer4life relive all the golden Moments as it happen.
GROUP STAGES
Nigeria began their campaign with an unimpressive 1 - 1 draw with Burkina Faso.
Nigeria plays another draw, but this time a goaless draw against the defending Champions Zambia and with two points from two games the Eagles risked qualification from the group which was being topped by Burkina Faso.
Chelsea attacker Vitor Moses single handedly delivered his native country Nigeria and lead them into the promise land, by scoring two crucial penalties. But there appeared to be stumbling block with the mighty Ivory Coast waiting for Nigeria at the other side.
QUATER FINAL STAGE
The Nigeria - Ivory coast game was one which left many Nigerians and the whole African continet asking"How had the mighty fallen". Goals from Sunday Mba and Emmanuel Emenike was enough to see the Eagles trumple the might Elephant, to a 2 - 1 victory. And at this point there was no stoping the rejuvenated Super Eagles lead by former skipper Stephen Keshi.
Next came MALI
SEMI FINALS
There is a common saying that everyone will pay for his actions. And this was the situation Mali saw themselves. Many Nigerians still hurt the dreadful 3-1 defeat Mali handed to the then Flying Eagles of Nigeria when, Nigeria staged the FIFA under 20 World Cup in 1999.
With so much bitterness in the heart of the Super Eagles and their eyes fixed on the ultimate African prize, Nigeria breezed past Mali with a memoriable 4 - 1 victory. A victory which saw the Malians confessed that the Super Eagles played just like Five times World Champions Brazil.
AND THEN THE FINALS...
The Finals of the 2013 AFCON saw Nigeria take on Burkina faso, Burkina Faso made it to the Finals after defeating favourite Ghana through a penalty shoot out.
A single magical strike from the Home boy Sunday Mba saw Nigeria crowned the CHAMPIONS OF AFRICA FOR THIRD TIME.
Soccer4life wishes the entire Citizens of Nigeria a wonderful celebration on their coronation as the Champions of Africa.
No comments:
Post a Comment