NIGERIA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Fans celebrate in Lagos as Nigeria beat Burkina Faso 1-0 to win African Cup of Nations

Record ID: 235951

  • Title: NIGERIA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Fans celebrate in Lagos as Nigeria beat Burkina Faso 1-0 to win African Cup of Nations
  • Date: 10th February 2013
  • Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (FEBRUARY 10, 2013) (REUTERS) BOARD READING: "FINAL, NIGERIA VERSUS BURKINA FASO, 7:00" VARIOUS OF FANS WATCHING THE GAME VARIOUS OF FANS CHEERING AFTER NIGERIA SCORE VARIOUS OF FANS AT THE TESLIM BALOGUN STADIUM WATCHING THE GAME (SOUNDBITE) (English) ADEKUNLE ADENIYI, RESIDENT IN LAGOS, SAYING: "We are happy today because it's been long that we have won this cup; in 1994, Yekini's time, we have not won the Nations Cup. so we are happy to win the cup today." (SOUNDBITE) (English) QUODRI AKOBI, BUSINESSMAN, SAYING: "I am very excited this night. The way they played, they played to win and they're determined to win the trophy and the end of the day, they lifted it so we are very grateful. This is the beginning of Nigeria, this is good Nigeria." (SOUNDBITE) (English) TUNDE ABODUNRIN, RESIDENT IN LAGOS, SAYING: "I feel great it's great for the country, you know for the past 19 years, it is a great success coming to the country." FANS CHEERING AFTER THE GAME FANS CELEBRATING ON THE STREETS OF LAGOS
  • Embargoed: 25th February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7KQQDIZVBBX008TEQ8TNFL7D0
  • Story Text: Thousands of Nigerians took to the streets of Lagos after Nigeria ended a 19-year wait to regain the African Nations Cup when a stunning goal from forward Sunday Mba gave them a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sunday (February 10).
    The celebration was widespread across Nigeria as fans gathered in bars and clubs and the Teslim Balogun stadium in Nigeria's most populous city, Lagos.

    "We are happy today because it's been long that we have won this cup; in 1994, Yekini's time, we have not won the Nations Cup so we are happy to win the cup today," Adekunle Adeniyi, a Lagos resident told Reuters Television.
    Quobri Akobi, businessman based in Nigeria's commercial city expressed his excitement at Nigeria's Nations Cup final win.

    "I am very excited this night," he said. "The way they played, they played to win and they're determined to lift the trophy and the end of the day, they lifted it so we are very grateful. This is the beginning of Nigeria, this is good Nigeria," he said.
    Tunde Abodurin, an ecstatic fan, said after almost two decades of not bringing home the cup, this was a well deserved win.

    "I feel great it's great for the country, you know for the past 19 years, it is a great success coming to the country," Tunde said.
    Burkina Faso, who defied the odds to reach the final for the first time, seemed over-awed by the occasion until the last 20 minutes when they threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, but Nigeria, with John Obi Mikel dominating in midfield and Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose and Kenneth Omeruo in control at the back, always held the upper hand.
    Before the match, Burkina were given a huge boost when Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials rescinded the red card shown to winger Jonathan Pitroipa in the semi-final allowing him to play in the final.
    However, he was marshalled throughout the match by Ambrose and Omeruo and had little influence.
    The final minutes were tense because Burkina Faso scored with the last kick of the game when the two sides drew 1-1 in their opening group match three weeks ago.
    This time Nigeria held out for the win and national coach Stephen Keshi became only the second man to win the tournament as player and coach after Mahmoud El Gohary achieved the feat for Egypt in 1959 and 1998.
    It was Nigeria's third African title and their first since Keshi captained them to victory in 1994.
    Nigeria's win means they will take part in the Confederations Cup in Brazil in June where they will face Oceania champions Tahiti, South American champions Uruguay and world champions Spain in the World Cup warm-up tournament
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