admintournament.
They seemed to improve considerably in their last qualifying tie against Liberia in Calabar with the introduction of Mikel Obi, but there were serious concerns about their defence.
While there were notable improvements in the midfield and attack, it only seemed a matter of time for the wobbly defence to let the team down.
And that moment came to pass in the first match of the Afcon, when Godfrey Oboabona failed to deal with a cross to gift Burkina Faso a late equalliser.
The Eagles only made it to the quarter-finals due to persistence of Victor Moses in their last game against Ethiopia and finished behind the Burkinabe’s to set up a tie against the pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast.
Though coach Stephen Keshi had looked a confused figure during the group stage, he identified some lapses and made some audacious changes that made the team more combative.
Kenneth Omeruo came in for Joseph Yobo, while Sunday Mba replaced the disappointing Nosa Igiebor.
Ahmed Musa got the chop in the forward line, while Fegor Ogude’s suspension paved the way for Ogenyi Onazi, who took his chance very well. Nigeria took the game to Ivory Coast and deservedly won.
The Eagles had pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the competition, and in doing so the coaches and indeed most Nigerians were convinced the best starting XI had at last been discovered.
The same team took Mali to the cleaners in the semi final, and the concern over the fitness of Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses showed the willingness of the technical crew to play the same team in the final. The Eagles expectedly beat Burkina Faso to lift the trophy for the first time since the turn of the millennium.
The unexpected triumph, however, vindicates Keshi, who was pilloried by the press for leaving out experienced players, as well as lacking ideas to move the team forward. In a surprising turnaround, comparisons are even being made between Keshi’s team and the legendary 1994 side. — Supersport.
Online Reporter