NIGERIA/SOUTH AFRICA: Analysts cautious to predict outcome of the African Nations Cup between Nigeria and Burkina Faso

Record ID: 235985

  • Title: NIGERIA/SOUTH AFRICA: Analysts cautious to predict outcome of the African Nations Cup between Nigeria and Burkina Faso
  • Date: 8th February 2013
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPER HEADLINES
  • Embargoed: 23rd February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAD6COS175V51GMYDJOQYQQ7ELH
  • Story Text: Nigeria's victory over Mali at the semi finals of the Africa Cup of Nations sent thousands of supporters dancing and singing into the streets of the commercial capital Lagos.
    The Super Eagles thrashed Mali 4-1 in Durban in an impressive match to reach the finals for the first time in more than a decade.
    Nigeria's remarkable performance came just three days after they outplayed Ivory Coast's star-studded squad of Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and others in the quarterfinals.
    Until now, Nigerian fans have agonized as the Super Eagles' fortunes dwindled to the lowest.
    Several coaches were hired and fired in the process. Notably, after a poor outing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, President Goodluck Jonathan ordered the disbanding of the national side altogether. He however, reversed his decision a week later to allow the formation of a new national outfit.
    Now the final clash against Burkina Faso on Sunday (February 09) and the possibility of winning the AFCON cup for the first time since 1994 being very real, Nigerians are all praise.
    The victory has even vindicated coach Stephen Kasha's decision to use more locally based players. His countrymen criticized him for not including the many European based Nigerian players in his squad.
    However, some fans remain cautious, hoping the team does not celebrate too soon.
    "Despite the winning, we can see there are so many weaknesses in the Nigerian team, we must not be carried away by what we are seeing now, the euphoria of winning, yeah, so we have to really work towards qualification for 2014 World Cup in Brazil," said Chris Nwankpa, a civil servant.
    Nigerian sports analyst, Ben Memiletiwon said he was confident the Supper Eagles will trounce Burkina Faso in the finals on Sunday but added it would certainly not be an easy match.
    "If they come out against Nigeria the way they came out against Ghana, it may drag into extra time, but don't forget the fact that they have played two extra times, they had extra time against Togo, they had extra time against Ghana, this will take its toll on the players, they are not engines, they are not machines, that one will slow them down definitely and Nigeria has the advantage of winning their matches under 90 minutes," said Memiletiwon.
    Burkina Faso's best effort was in 1998, on home soil, when they finished in fourth place. They struggled at AFCON 2012, departing the tournament after the group stage, having accumulated no wins and zero points.
    The Super Eagles have finished in third-place a record of six times.
    Keshi was captain of the Super Eagles team when Nigeria last won in 1994 and if Nigeria is victorious come Sunday (February 10), he will be the first Nigerian to have won the AFCON cup as both a player and a coach.
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