EXACTLY 10 years ago, Nigeria defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 to win their third Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), sparking wide celebrations across the country.
Sunday Mba netted the only goal at the National Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa against the Stallions in a keenly-contested game.
He gave dominant Nigeria the breakthrough in the 39th minute, clipping the ball over Mohamed Koffi before volleying it into the far corner to seal the crown for the Super Eagles.
“Winning this is mainly for my nation – when I came on board a year and a half ago my dream was to make all Nigerians happy, and to construct a great Nigerian team. We are not there yet, it’s still in process,” the late Keshi said then.
Going into the match, the Stephen Keshi-led team outmuscled the Eagles of Mali 4-1 in the semi-final. That came on the back of what many pundits described as a statement victory over Ivory Coast in the last eight.
The Ivorians, hot-favourite for the title in South Africa, came up against a Nigerian side that had struggled to impress in the earlier stages of the tournament.
Coming up against a Didier Drogba-inspired Ivory Coast looking for their maiden continental crown, the Super Eagles conceded first but Mba and Emmanuel Emenike turned the tide in the Nigerians’ favour, winning 2-1.
In Group C containing Burkina Faso, Zambia, and Ethiopia, the West Africans squeezed out just one win – in their last game – after drawing their first two matches.
2013 is the last AFCON Nigeria won. The team have only managed to finish third at the 2019 edition after failing to make the tournament in 2015 and 2017.
Keshi’s Legacy
Late Stephen Keshi took over the reins as coach of the Nigeria AFCON 2013 squad in November 2011 after the team failed to qualify for the 2012 AFCON, the first time in 26 years.
He took over the job at a time when the national team was low in confidence and started by getting players from the local league to play a greater part in the Nigeria squad of 2013.
They combined well to form a new Super Eagles that the country was proud of again.
Leading his third team to the AFCON – following stints with Togo and Mali – Keshi finally won his first AFCON title as a coach.
Juwon Oshaniwa, a defender who started the 2013 AFCON qualifiers as a home-based player with Sharks of Port Harcourt had teamed up with Israeli’s Ashdod before the competition said he was extremely delighted to be in the winning squad.
“This is the biggest competition in Africa and I am more than grateful that I was among those that won it.”
“During the 2013 AFCON qualifiers, most of us were still home-based players. Sunday Mba, Godfrey Oboabona, Reuben Gabriel and I .
“We connected well with the foreign-based players. By the time the qualifiers were over, I was already a foreign-based player too. I joined the team in Portugal. We had a good preparation and from there we proceeded to the AFCON in South Africa.
“Despite our struggle in the first-round games in South Africa, we knew we went to the competition to do well.”
Oshaniwa agreed that odds were against the Eagles in their quarter final duel with Cote d’Ivoire and admitted they knew the title was for Nigeria to lose after they terminated the campaign of the Elephants of Cote ‘d’ Ivoire.
“Against Cote d’Ivoire , there were a lot of factors in their favour. They had very good players but we put in our very best against them and we progressed to the semi-final and later won the cup in the final.”
The former Ashdod of Israel and Akwa United player declined comments on the chances of the Eagles in Cameroon but accepts that the experience garnered by the interim coach, Austin Eguavoen would be vital in Cameroon.
“When it comes to the technical aspect I don’t like to comment on it,” Oshaniwa stated. “The experience of Austin Eguavoen who has played in the AFCON and coached the team in the competition will be vital.
“He has also got the collection of the experienced and young players.”
Meanwhile, another member of the historic 2013 AFCON squad was Ejike Uzoenyi who is currently on his third stint with Enugu Rangers.
It was the same team he was playing with in the build-up to the competition in South Africa.
“The days leading to the release of the names of the 23 players that will represent Nigeria were filled with tension,” Uzoenyi recollected. “We drew the opening two games and must win against Ethiopia. It was what we went for.
“It was like magic. If I have to be honest with you, most of us had already packed our bags like a day before the fixture against Cote d’Ivoire.
“The NFF too were not sure we would even pick a draw because Cote d’ Ivoire were fantastic in their first-round matches.
“The only man that was confident we would qualify was Stephen Keshi. He said he would be staying here until the end of the competition. He said he care less about what we were thinking. His motivational words revived the players’ spirits.
“It was after that game we started having the feeling that we could win the AFCON. It was after that win that the NFF agreed that we could win the title.
“I felt on top of the world to be in the team. I got a move to Stade Rennes in France and played for a season before returning home at the expiration of my contract.”
Uzoenyi lowered expectations on the chances of the Eagles in Cameroon but charged the team to be confident in their ability to deliver even when the odds are against them.
“I don’t know but all I can say is that they must go to Cameroon and be confident of their chances.”
Yet Azubuike Egwuekwe , the then Warri Wolves’ defender who defiled chickenpox to make the 2013 AFCON team , affirmed Keshi ‘s unrivalled love for home based players.
“Keshi believed so much in the home-based players. We started the preparation in Abuja with only the home-based players and after about two weeks of intense preparation, some of us were joined by foreign professionals in Faro, Portugal,” Egwuekwe, who later had a stint in Finland.
“It was not easy in camp because everybody was fighting to make the team to the AFCON. The preparation went well and I was able to make the list even when I got ill with chickenpox, Keshi insisted I must be on the team.”
He added: “We had most players in the team who only attended their first AFCON in South Africa. After our drawn two games with Burkina Faso and Zambia, we spoke to ourselves and resolved to end the competition well after initial struggle.
“We were jittery before the game against Cote d’Ivoire but after five minutes into the game, I told goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim that we would win the game.
“After the victory over Cote d’Ivoire , we were certain the AFCON was ours. We were happy to win the competition. It was one of my memorable moments as a player.
“I have all the medals that I have won with the national team and the Member of the Order of Niger (MON) award with me as well.
“I want to show it to my children when they are of age what I achieved playing for Nigeria. I want to inspire them.”