It’s mission accomplished. This evening, Nigeria’s Super Eagles brought their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign to a glorious climax with a lone goal victory over the Stallions of Burkina Faso in the final decided at the National Stadium in Johannesburg.

It was a match which the Nigerians, who were playing in their seventh final, dominated but were denied an early goal mainly through the misses of forward Brown Ideye. Midfield dynamo Sunday Mba finally unlocked the Burkinabes’ net after stabbing home the ball in the 39^th minute to complete a process that involved Victor Moses and Ikechukwu Uche.

The goal stung the Burkinabes, who launched series of raids but the Nigerians stood firm till the end of the first half.

In the second half, the Eagles missed even more glaring chances. Keshi was forced to pull out Ike Uche for Ahmed Musa in the 53^rd minute while injury to Elderson Echiejile gave Juwon Oshaniwa the opportunity to taste action for the first time in the tournament. As the match was drawing to an end and the Burkinabes fortified their attack, Keshi pulled out Mba for skipper Joseph Yobo.

With the Eagles hanging on till the end, Keshi has made history by becoming the second ever player to win the coveted cup as a player and as a coach.