19 yrs after: Eagles rule Africa again

NIGERIA claimed their third African title on Sunday at Soccer City, Johannesburg when they beat the Stallions of Burkina Faso by a lone goal in the final of the 29th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The country’s national team, the Super Eagles crowned a spectacular outing with an inspired 40th minute effort from Sunday Mba.
Mba, one of the six home-based players from the Nigerian Premier League, NPL,  had earlier made the difference in the quarter final against the dreaded Ivorien team, the Elephants scoring the winner for Nigeria in the 2-1 win.
‘’He is Sunday, he made it for Nigeria last Sunday, he has made it for us on another Sunday,’’ elated Nigerians said in reference the name of the striker turned midfielder, Sunday Mba
Mba has also justified the confidence the coaching crew had in the home based players which had six representatives in the Nigeria’s contingent to the Nations Cup.

Burkina Faso Prepears For Showdown With Nigeria As CAF Clears Pitroipa To Play The Finals.

Burkina Faso winger Jonathan Pitroipa.(FIFA)

Burkina Faso winger Jonathan Pitroipa, controversially sent off in their semi-final win over Ghana on Wednesday, has had his dismissal rescinded by CAF and can play in Sunday's African Nations Cup final against Nigeria.

The Confederation of African Football's referee's review committee overturned Pitroipa's ban after Tunisian referee Slim Jdidi told CAF he made a mistake with the second yellow card shown to the player for simulation. 

Burkina Faso reach final with shootout win over Ghana

Burkina Faso reached the African Nations Cup final for the first time with a dramatic 3-2 penalty shoutout win over Ghana on Wednesday after their semi-final ended 1-1 following extra time. 

They clinched the victory after Emmanuel Agyemang Badu missed Ghana's third penalty after a weak shimmy and shot.
The Burkinabe will be without the influential Jonathan Pitroipa in Sunday's final against Nigeria after he was sent off three minutes from the end of extra time for a second yellow card.
Ghana went ahead after 13 minutes when Mubarak Wakaso scored his third penalty of the tournament after Burkina Faso defender Paul Koulibaly was harshly judged to have fouled Christian Atsu.
Burkina Faso equalised after exactly an hour when Aristides Bance fired home low and hard from the edge of the penalty area.

KESHI: Super Eagles Are Not Underating Mali At All!

Coach Stephen Keshi has hailed the Malian team and their driving force ahead of Wednesday’s clash in the semi-finals of the Afcon 2013 between the Super Eagles and the Malian team, saying the civil war going on in their country is responsible for the fighting spirit the team has shown.
In a game that will decide who plays the final of the African Cup of Nations in Durban tomorrow, the two West African team will be going into the game with so much determination, as the Super Eagles has been touted the favourites by pundits after a stunning finish against earlier favourites Ivory Coast who were shown the way out of the competition by a now advanced Super Eagles team with a 2-1 victory in the quaterfinals on Sunday, but the Super eagles Coach is playing the favourites tag thing down, claiming he does not know about his team being the favourites for the Afcon 2013 but he is presently concerned with the team delivering the desired results .

Eagles Fly Past Mali, Nigerians are behind you, Jonathan tells Eagles •As Eagles face Mali in S/final

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday put a Skype call through to Super Eagles in  their base in Durban, South Africa, urging them to bring the coveted Africa Cup of Nations trophy back to Nigeria.

Speaking to members of the team individually and as a group, he assured them that the nation was behind them and proud of their achievement so far in the football tourney.

He promised them that government would make them “proud young men” if they bring back the cup.

He spoke to coach Stephen Keshi, asking about the spirit in the camp and telling him that victory in the tournament would be a fitting way to mark the nation’s centenary.

He said that “on behalf of this country I want to tell you that Nigerians are very happy with your performance. We are looking up to you.

Ivory Coast May Not Feature Drogba Against Nigeri.

Favourites Ivory Coast step back into the African Nations Cup spotlight on Sunday, spoilt for choice as they meet Nigeria in the quarter-finals in Rustenburg.

Outsiders Burkina Faso and Togo also meet in the last eight in Nelspruit on Sunday, seeking to continue their surprise run at the tournament in South Africa.

The decision on whether to start Didier Drogba is eagerly awaited as the Ivory Coast proved in the group stage that they could do without a player who previously had a talismanic influence on the team.
Drogba was dropped for their second group game, which produced Ivory Coast's most convincing performance and secured qualification. Coach Sabri Lamouchi has hinted he may go back to that selection for the game at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.

Ivory Coast, Don't Write Off Nigeria: Milel Obi

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has warned Africa Cup of Nations title favourites Ivory Coast not to write off Nigeria ahead of a mega quarter-final clash this weekend.
Mikel excelled and Stamford Bridge teammate Victor Moses slotted two late penalties as the Super Eagles overcame gallant Ethiopia 2-0 Tuesday in this north-western town to finish second behind shock Group C winners Burkina Faso.
Zambia became the first defending champions since Algeria in 1992 not to reach the knockout stage after a 0-0 draw with the Burkinabe in Nelspruit near the world famous Kruger National Park game reserve.
A superior goal difference -- plus four to plus two -- gave Burkina Faso top spot ahead of Nigeria after both countries finished with five points, Zambia collected three and Ethiopia just one in a first appearance after 31 years.

Super Eagles Most Fly Over Antelopes In An Hour Time Or Move Back Home

So far the Eagles have failed to lift the spirits of millions of Nigerians with their uninspiring play in their first two group games of the African Cup of Nations. The insipid performance has thus put the team in their presence predicament of needing to beat Ethiopia on Tuesday if they are to avoid the ignominy of a first round exit – the first time this has happened to the Eagles in 31 years (Libya’82).

Zambia Ready To Over Take Nigeria For Quater Finals.

Durban - Champions Zambia must win their last group game against Burkina Faso in Nelspruit on Tuesday to stand any chance of reaching the African Nations Cup quarter-finals.

Two below-par performances in their opening matches have left Zambia with two points and in a tight corner, where they need victory to leapfrog Group C leaders Burkina Faso who have four points.

Zambia have shown little of the form that saw them win the Nations Cup one year ago and even relied on goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene's 85th-minute penalty against Nigeria to salvage a draw.

Burkina Faso have emerged as Zambia's surprise rivals for top billing in Group C after beating Ethiopia 4-0 in Nelspruit last Thursday. 

Eagles Are Fully Ready For Ethiopia-Keshi

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi insists the Super Eagles are ready for their crunch Group C game against Ethiopia on Today.

Nigeria currently sit equal second in the group after draws against Burkina Faso and Zambia, with Ethiopia in last place with just one point to show from their opening two games.

Keshi is happy with how his men have applied themselves in preparation for the game.

“I want to recognize my team about preparation for today’s game, we have been working very hard,” he said.

Nigerian Football Administrators Say Super Eagles Have No More Excuses Left

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) made it clear on Monday that it does not expect anything less than an outright win by the Nigerian Super Eagles when they face the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in the final Group C match of the 29th Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.
 
Draws in two games so far   have now rendered Tuesday’s encounter a must-win for Nigeria and the NFF says there is no excuse for the players and technical crew not to do Nigeria proud at the tournament.
Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Chief Emeka Inyama, said: “This team has received tremendous support from the Government of Nigeria, the football federation and the good and passionate people of our country. There is nothing the players or the Head Coach and his crew have requested for that we have failed to provide."