The Golden
Generation of the
Cote d'Ivoire
finally came to
the end of the
road as they were usurped by Stephen Keshi's
plucky Super Eagles at the King
Bafokeng Stadium. Nigeria took
the lead against the lethargic
Elephants through a wonderful
Emmanuel Emenike strike, before Cheik Tiote equalised with a
header just after the interval. In
an engrossing second half, Sunday
Mba wrote his name in Naija
folklore by finishing a hopeful run
with a deflected finish past Boubacar Barry. For the first half of action it
seemed like the Super Eagles had
turned back the clock and rolled
back the years. Gone was the
timidity and the nervousness that
had characterised their dull group encounters, the side looked bold
and brave. In comparison, the
Ivorians, so well-fancied before
the tournament, looked laborious
and lethargic – their casual
approach matching the unprofessional nicknames on some
of their shirts. It felt like 1994 as the Super
Eagles burst forward. Victor
Moses, the nation's saviour
against Ethiopia, was once again
influential – his tenacious running
and ferocious speed constantly causing problems for the Ivorian
defenders. Emmanuel Emenike was
also looking to capture the form
of the opening 45 minutes against
Burkina Faso, although the striker
fired over from near point-blank range in the first half. With the interval approaching,
Nigerian enterprise eventually
paid off. Soon after Yaya Toure
had been forced into a shoulder
block to curtail Moses's advance,
the Super Eagles won a free kick 30 yards out. John Obi Mikel laid
the ball off, andEmenike, with the weight of 19 years of anguish
behind him, fired the ball over the
wall into the goal. Perhaps Copa
Barry in the Ivorian net should
have done better, but few in
Nigeria cared, as the finish sparking furious celebration
among their massed ranks. The euphoria of the first half was
not to last into the second.
Moments after Salomon Kalou had
been cautioned for simulation in
the Nigerian box, Didier Drogba
was brought to ground by Efe Ambrose. It was the Super
Eagles' moment to look inert,
and they were promptly punished
asCheick Tiote headed the ball past Enyeama. The keeper
promptly remonstrated with his
static defence, but the damage
had been done. The second half unrolled with
both sides looking to attack, and
creating a number of
opportunities. Elderson went close
with a blocked shot when Moses
was perhaps better placed. The miss threatened to be costly,
that was, untilSunday Mba decided to introduce himself into
the game's narrative. Running
boldly at the Ivorian defence, the
striker, included at the expense
of the likes of Peter Odemwingie
and Obafemi Martins, sent a deflected shot up and over
Boubacar Barry. It prompted ecstatic scenes in
Rustenburg, as Stephen Keshi's
men played out a nervy final ten
minutes as the Ivorians pushed.
John Obi Mikel must get a mention
for a terrific tackle on Traore, but the whole team will be
heralded as heroes after a
glorious victory and well-deserved
progression. They now face Mali in
the semi-final on Wednesday.

Nigeria team players really played like never before in this match, Nigeria super eagle seems to be serious than ever as they progress in this "South Africa" African cup of Nations.