African Nations Cup 2013 hero, Sunday Mba Saturday proved to be the slayer
of the Elephants of Cote’d Ivoire, when he scored a brace and made two other
goals in the home-based Eagles’ 4-1 victory over their Ivorian counterparts in
the CAF African Nations Championship first leg qualifier decided at the Ahmadu
Bello Stadium Kaduna.
Mba during the Nations Cup in South Africa scored the winning goal in the
semi-final clash against the Elephants and in Kaduna, he justified his high
rating in African football and barring any unforeseen circumstances, Mba will
return to South Africa in February where the CHAN tournament will hold.
FIRING POWER… Super Eagles attacking midfielder, Sunday Mba puts Ivorian
players in the firing range as he scored a brace in Sturday’s CAF African
Nations Championship qualifier at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna.
Gambo Mohammed, the Kano Pillars striker who missed a seater in the
Confederations Cup match against Spain in Brazil, opened scoring in the
14th minute after he was set free in the Ivorian box by Mba whose tailor
made pass made it all certain that Gambo will make amends for that miss. The
lanky striker made a good turn and took his spot in the far right of Sylvian
Gbohouo in goal for Cote d’Ivoire.
Mba, doubled the lead with his trade mark shooting from outside the box in
in the 28th minute. However, the Ivorians fought back causing anxious
moments for the Eagles and just before the break, they were rewarded with their
only goal of the match when Coulibally Fousseny capitalised on a hesitant
clearance by the Eagles defence to slot the ball pass Chijioke Agbim in goal
for the Eagles.
The Ivorians’ fighting spirit was deflated in the second half when Asale
Rodger handled the ball in the box and was subsequently sent off for dissent by
the referee. Mba made no mistake from the spot to register Nigeria’s third
goal.
As if that was not enough Baresi Gloudeou was also sent off for elbowing
Mba and from then it was lights out for the Ivorians. However, the Eagles
failed to find the knock out punch to bury their opponents but it was Ifeanyi
Ede who finally hammered home the last nail in the 83rd minute to put the
match beyond the reach of the Ivorians. The second leg comes up on July 27 and
a good result for the Eagles in that match will see them through to South
Africa.
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