MATCH DETAILS
Nigeria vs Burkina Faso
Date : 10-02-2013
Nigeria vs Burkina Faso
Date : 10-02-2013
Game Start - 19:00
Final
Stadium: FNB Stadium (Soccer City) (Johannesburg, GA)
Stadium: FNB Stadium (Soccer City) (Johannesburg, GA)
Africa Cup of Nations 2013.
Nigeria wanted old rivals Ghana to join them in Sunday’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final. However, the Super Eagles will have to spend a night with surprise finalists Burkina Faso in the last fiesta.
Nigeria and Burkina Faso meet again at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations; this time, not in a group match but in the final.Analysis
In their semi-final encounter against the Black Stars, the Stallions were victims of arguably the worst officiating ever seen at this tournament in South Africa. They had a good penalty call turned down before the referee awarded a dubious one for the Ghanaians to break the deadlock in the first half.
However, backed by confident coach Paul Put, Burkina Faso fought back impressively. They went on level terms in the 60th minute through Aristide Bance. This strike pushed the game into extra-time where Prejuce Nakoulma had a wrongly disallowed potential winner before Pitroipa got controversially sent off.
Still, the Stallions stayed united to defeat the odds. A Panenka-like spot kick from Bance and a heroic save from goalkeeper Diakite bitterly ended Ghana’s hopes of lifting the AFCON trophy for the first time since 1982.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final is poised to produce drama at its highest level, looking at Burkina Faso’s immense fighting spirit and level of concentration which saw them overcome hot tournament favourites Ghana in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Nigeria are dying to capture the throne that was theirs in 1980 and 1994. In midweek, the Super Eagles hit top form against a Malian team determined to cruise to the final and win the AFCON 2013 title in the name of peace.
Nigeria, in fact, had other ideas. Filled with momentum following their quarter-final triumph over runners-up Ivory Coast, the Super Eagles put four goals past the sorry Eagles of Mali as football fans watched – some in ecstasy, others in embarrassment.
When Nigeria and Burkina Faso met in the group stages, how many people seriously predicted that both teams would provide the final battle of the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa?
For the Stallions, the realistic target was never to clinch the cup. However, the chance to do so has now come – much to the surprise of their own government who had made one-week provisions only to assist the country’s travelling fans. These broke supporters from Burkina Faso are in dreamland and gold medals would transform them into the richest people in Africa but like Egypt (2006, 2008) and Zambia (2012), Nigeria could lift the Cup of Nations having defeated Ivory Coast on the road.
Nigeria and Burkina Faso meet again at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations; this time, not in a group match but in the final.Analysis
In their semi-final encounter against the Black Stars, the Stallions were victims of arguably the worst officiating ever seen at this tournament in South Africa. They had a good penalty call turned down before the referee awarded a dubious one for the Ghanaians to break the deadlock in the first half.
However, backed by confident coach Paul Put, Burkina Faso fought back impressively. They went on level terms in the 60th minute through Aristide Bance. This strike pushed the game into extra-time where Prejuce Nakoulma had a wrongly disallowed potential winner before Pitroipa got controversially sent off.
Still, the Stallions stayed united to defeat the odds. A Panenka-like spot kick from Bance and a heroic save from goalkeeper Diakite bitterly ended Ghana’s hopes of lifting the AFCON trophy for the first time since 1982.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final is poised to produce drama at its highest level, looking at Burkina Faso’s immense fighting spirit and level of concentration which saw them overcome hot tournament favourites Ghana in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Nigeria are dying to capture the throne that was theirs in 1980 and 1994. In midweek, the Super Eagles hit top form against a Malian team determined to cruise to the final and win the AFCON 2013 title in the name of peace.
Nigeria, in fact, had other ideas. Filled with momentum following their quarter-final triumph over runners-up Ivory Coast, the Super Eagles put four goals past the sorry Eagles of Mali as football fans watched – some in ecstasy, others in embarrassment.
When Nigeria and Burkina Faso met in the group stages, how many people seriously predicted that both teams would provide the final battle of the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa?
For the Stallions, the realistic target was never to clinch the cup. However, the chance to do so has now come – much to the surprise of their own government who had made one-week provisions only to assist the country’s travelling fans. These broke supporters from Burkina Faso are in dreamland and gold medals would transform them into the richest people in Africa but like Egypt (2006, 2008) and Zambia (2012), Nigeria could lift the Cup of Nations having defeated Ivory Coast on the road.