Nigeria wins African title for 1st time since 1994

Nigeria wins African title for 1st time since 1994

Published Feb. 11, 2013 12:01 a.m. ET

Nigeria won its first African Cup of Nations title since 1994, beating Burkina Faso 1-0 on Sunday Mba's left-footed volley off a rebound in the 40th minute.

Nigeria's Stephen Keshi became only the second person to win the tournament as a player and coach. He was the Super Eagles' captain when they won in 1994. Nigeria also was the 1980 champion.

''Winning this tournament is mainly for my nation,'' Keshi said after Sunday's game. ''When I came on board a year-and-a-half ago, my dream is to make all Nigerians happy.''

With its victory before a crowd of about 87,000 at Soccer City, 52nd-ranked Nigeria advanced to a first-round group with Spain, Uruguay and Tahiti at June's FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

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''Everybody came through with a great match and that's what we needed,'' Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo said. ''Everyone gave something extra and it made the difference.''

At Lagos, fans watching on a large screen at Teslim Balogun Stadium tossed beer cans at the final whistle.

Burkina Faso, ranked 92nd, was seeking its first title.

''Maybe we showed Nigeria too much respect,'' Burkina Faso coach Paul Put said.

Notes: Mahmoud el-Gohary played for Egypt's championship team in 1959 and coached the Pharaohs to the 1998 title.

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