After being chasers of an AFCON glory for 19years, the Super
Eagles had done enough to clinch the trophy and underline their resurgence
which sparked huge celebrations in Nigeria.
It was also the first time for 21years that a black African
coach has won the cup-Ivory Coast’s Yao Martial was the last to do so in
1992.Though the unfancied Nigerian team boasted some home-lads to examine
carefully in its side that had played out a 1-1 draw in their group opening
fixture against Burkina Faso.
With angst all over on whether it’s ready for the
competition big test that awaits it, especially against pre-tournament
favorites Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana after much fancied professionals and celebrated
names couldn’t rise to the occasion in the opening fixture
As the tournament wore on, it soon became a reality for an
unknown star who had earlier represented the nation as a member of the Nigeria
‘C’ team that won the 2010 WAFU Nations Cup-the first in as many to come. A brace against Liberia
in his next game, was all he needed for the coach to regard him a talent who
only but need time to flourish under a well-tutored, experienced handler- One
that was not too far from reach with a good display against Nations cup
defending champion Zambia.
His rise to stardom began to have meaning after replacing
one of the tournament’s under-par performer, Nosa Igiebor and made the most of
his opportunity so much that Igiebor warmed the bench by the third match against
Ethiopia.
A cracking goal in the second period against the Ivorians
made sure the road to stardom soon begun and Sabre Lamouche’s army were down and out of the
continental showpiece against the bookies.
Sunday Mba’s performance would later mean that hosts of
clubs at home and abroad fought over his signature to underline his true
potential.
Since the fateful day, Mba became a hot cake with European
clubs having to sign him and also a source of disagreement between Rangers
International of Enugu and Warri wolves of Delta, with what became the hugs of
headlines in most Nigerian news stand- a story that brings to the fore the
problem of contract signing and record-keeping that have bedeviled the Nigeria
sport scenery.
Sunday Mba was born on the 28th of November as an
indigene of Abia State. Like most Nigerian footballer, he was not born of a
silver spoon so had to undergo the challenges of making things work, with the support of his Mother who he
described the best in making sure his dream was actualized. Mba never grew up
knowing his father .His early football days started at the Pepsi football
Academy in Nigeria. His first start as a professional player was with his
homeland team, Enyimba of Aba. He moved on to Enugu Rangers and proceeded to
the Dolphin of Port Harcourt. Mba is currently signed with Warri wolves where
he has played since 2010. For years, he toiled from one team to the other
before stardom came knocking after the historic match on February 3rd,
2013.
The home lads –the
unwanted entity prior to the biggest football fiesta, soon became the toast of
many amongst fans in the country after their exploits with the emergence of
Godfrey Oboabona in a resolute Eagles defence, that have had sticks from
stake-holders in the past and Sunday
Mba, the lynchpin.
This time they had been vindicated under Coach Stephen Keshi
for including them against the wish of many with the Suave midfielder , the
shining light amongst the lot.
We may begin to say that truly their heroics
have taken them above being ‘fresh pair of eyes’ under the Eagle’s gaffer- who
not only believed in them but also did enough to harness their potentials well
enough to make them the talk of the Nigerian populace. Whether or not there is
to be a continuum of the process for more of their like, the heroics of this
class of home professionals can be termed a leeway, and certainly the memories
of these heroes continue to linger on.
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