NIGERIA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Nigerians celebrate their team reaching the Africa Cup of Nations final for the first time since 2000

Record ID: 235957

  • Title: NIGERIA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Nigerians celebrate their team reaching the Africa Cup of Nations final for the first time since 2000
  • Date: 6th February 2013
  • Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (FEBRUARY 6, 2013) (REUTERS) CROWD WATCHING AFCON SEMI-FINAL BETWEEN NIGERIA AND MALI ON GIANT SCREEN VARIOUS OF NIGERIA FANS IN CROWD VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS CELEBRATING NIGERIAN GOAL CROWD WATCHING MATCH/ CELEBRATING NIGERIA'S THIRD GOAL (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARINZE REUBEN, BUSINESSMAN, SAYING: "I watched the match, I'm so happy and I thank God for our coach and our players and we are very happy for what we see today and all my heart is thanks to God, if not for God, we would not have won this match, all we're saying now is support the Super Eagles with prayers." (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIBUZOR CHIME, ENGINEER, SAYING: "It was a very interesting match, no doubt, the team is becoming one, the understanding among the players is increasing with the series of matches they've played and their confidence is coming back in fact, I'm very impressed, Keshi has proved that he's a good leader, not just a coach, he's a leader and he's instilling his leadership quality in the team so he should keep it up and I believe that if the team continues like this, they'll go places." (SOUNDBITE) (English) IKECHUKWU ONYEAMA, RESIDENT IN LAGOS, SAYING: "I am very very excited and I'm proud of Nigeria, I always talk about Nigeria, even before we played Ivory Coast, I was telling my friends that we're going to knock Ivory Coast off, even today's match I predicted it 4:0 but unfortunately they scored 1."
  • Embargoed: 21st February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5EMLW0T5ZK7N82YHRZOJYYU0M
  • Story Text: Hundreds of fans in Nigeria's most populous city, Lagos, celebrated the Super Eagles' victory after theeir soccer team scored three goals in a blistering 20-minute first-half spell as they routed Mali 4-1 to reach the final of the African Cup of Nations for the first time since 2000 on Wednesday (February 6).
    After Mali settled first and threatened to take an early lead at the match in Durban, South Africa, Nigeria clicked into gear with goals from Elderson Echiejile after 25 minutes, Brown Ideye in the 30th minute and an own goal from Mali defender Momo Sissoko just before halftime.
    Residents in Lagos gathered at one of the stadiums in the city to watch the enthralling semi-final game.
    Arinze Reuben, businessman in Lagos said that with this win, the Super Eagles needs support and love from Nigerians.
    "I watched the match, I'm so happy and I thank God for our coach and our players and we are very happy for what we see today and all my heart is thanks to God, if not for God, we would not have won this match, all we're saying now is support the Super Eagles with prayers," he said.
    Chibuzor Chime, an engineer was ecstatic with the win.
    "It was a very interesting match, no doubt, the team is becoming one, the understanding among the players is increasing with the series of matches they've played and their confidence is coming back in fact, I'm very impressed, Keshi has proved that he's a good leader, not just a coach, he's a leader and he's instilling his leadership quality in the team so he should keep it up and I believe that if the team continues like this, they'll go places," Chime said.
    Mali, who famously came back from 4-0 down to draw 4-4 with Angola in the opening game of the 2010 finals, never looked like repeating that feat but did score a consolation goal when Cheick Diarra fired home in the 75th minute.
    "I am very very excited and I'm proud of Nigeria, I always talk about Nigeria, even before we played Ivory Coast, I was telling my friends that we're going to knock Ivory Coast off, even today's match I predicted it 4-0 but unfortunately they scored one," Ikechukwu Onyeama, a resident in Lagos said.
    In Sunday's (February 10) final, Nigeria will meet the winners of the second semi between Ghana and Burkina Faso being played later on Wednesday at Nelspruit.
    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi is one victory from becoming the second man to win the tournament as player and coach but, before the goal onslaught, Mali had the better of play and created three good chances inside the first 15 minutes.
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