Nigeria Is New 'African Queen'

Nigeria has won her third African Cup of Nations crown after a hard fought 1- 0 win over Burkina Faso on Sunday night at Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg.

The only goal of the encounter was scored by domestic player Sunday Mba in the 40th minute of the first half. It was another express delivery from the Warri Wolves star. He flicked the ball over a Burkina Faso defender with his right foot and with his left foot unleashed a volley. Goalkeeper Daouda Diakite could only watch in agony as the ball sailed to the top corner.

In the second half, Burkina Faso came out with full force searching for an equalizer. And they were almost rewarded in the 74th minute. Substitute Bakary Sanou shot from an acute angle but the ball hit the post.

On 85', Brown Ideye could have given Nigeria an unassailable two-goal cushion after interchange of passes from Moses and Musa, but missed target.

Nigeria had won the 1980 and 1994 editions of the competition. Sunday's final was Burkina Faso's first time of playing in the tournament's final match.

Five Nigeria players were named in the official Team of the Tournament - Vincent Enyeama(goalkeeper), Efe Ambrose (right back), Victor Moses ( midfield), Obi Mikel(midfield) and Emmanuel Emenike (striker)

Individual Awards
Samsung Fair Player of the Tournament:Victor Moses (Nigeria)

Orange Man of the Tournament:Jonathan Pitroipa (Burkina Faso)

Pepsi Tournament Top Scorer:Emmanuel Emenike (Nigeria)

Nissan Goal of the Tournament:Youssef El Msakni (Tunisia)

Photo Credit: National Mirror