By Sandra Birungi

Nigeria scooped the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) cup with a 1-0 win against Burkina Faso  making it three times now winning the AFCON.

Nigeria managed to put up a strong defense against Burkina Faso in the AFCON finals 2013. Sunday Mba scored the winning goal for the team in the 39th minute after struggling to net the ball.

The first 38 minutes were marred with near misses, near scores, and a strong defense on the part of Nigeria. Being their first time to appear in the AFCON finals, Burkina Faso tried their best to net the ball. Credit has to be given to Jonathan Pitroipa, who was later named Player of the Tournament.

19-year-old Mba in the first half scored the first goal and managed to keep it at that till the end of the 90 minute game. This is the fifth goal for Mba for the team since he joined the national team. This year’s win makes it the third AFCON cup for Nigeria to win since 1994. Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has become only the second player to win the Afcon title as a player and a coach.

Nigeria Line Up:

• Enyeama;
• Ambrose,
• Oboabona,
• Omeruo,
• Elderson;
• Mba,
• Mikel,
• Onazi;
• Moses,
• Ideye,
• Uche

Burkina Faso Line Up:

• Diakite;
• Koffi,
• B.Kone,
• Koulibally,
• Panandetiguiri;
• D.Kone,
• Rouamba,
• Kabore,
• Pitroipa;
• Nakoulma,
• Bance