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.
Rafael Nadal reacts after losing in the Vina del Mar final to Argentine Horacio Zeballos yesterday
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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.
Mba struck on 40 minutes with a penalty-box flick over Mohamed Koffi and a left-foot shot into the far corner.
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