AFCON: Super Eagles Grab Semi-Final Ticket: Trounce Cote D’ Ivoire 2-1 … Jonathan, Mark, PDP Hail Eagles

Nigeria shocked tournament favourites Ivory Coast 2-1 yesterday to progress to the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals in Rustenburg.

The Super Eagles took a first half lead through Emmanuel Emenike just before the break, but the Ivorians levelled on 50 minutes through Cheick Tiote.

However, Sunday Mba netted the winner 12 minutes from time for a sensational victory.

Elephants coach Sabri Lamouchi made eight changes from the team that drew 2-2 with Algeria in their last match, and it showed as Nigeria got out of the blocks faster, with Victor Moses firing in a shot on 10 minutes which Boubacar Barry parried to safety.

Emenike fired another shot over the bar on 27 minutes before their dominance was finally rewarded just before the break – the striker slotting a great free-kick after Moses was brought down just outside the area.

The Ivorians looked much better after the break and were duly rewarded just five minutes in when they drew level through Tiote, who headed in Didier Drogba’s free-kick at the back-post.

The Elephants kept up the pressure, though a warning sign of the Nigerian danger should have been forthcoming when Brown Ideye’s close-range header was well saved by Barry.

Yaya Toure was put straight through and looked certain to score, but the excellent Vincent Enyeama was equal to the task.

It proved a crucial save as Nigeria scored the decisive goal just 12 minutes before the end – Mba beating three defenders before his deflected shot left Barry with no chance.

Ivory Coast threw everything forward and had a number of chances, but just could not get the ball into the back of the net as the Eagles held on for a famous win.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated the Super Eagles for their superlative performance at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.

A message on the Twitter account of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said Jonathan thanked the players “for their masterly and superlative performance.

“President Jonathan thanks the Super Eagles for their masterly and superlative performance in the just-concluded AFCON encounter with CIV.

“President Jonathan says to the Super Eagles now is the time to really begin to soar like the Super Eagles that they are.

“President Jonathan joins all Nigerians in celebrating today’s victory by the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

“The President has watched all the matches, including this last one.”

In a semilar vein, the Senate President, David Mark, has also thanked the Super Eagles for their 2-1 victory over the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.

The defeat of the Ivorians, the pre-tournament favourites, has ensured the National team’s qualification for the semi-finals.

A statement released in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Paul Mumeh, quotes Mark as saying that football remained a unifying factor for the Nigerian people.

Mark urged the Eagles to stay focused and committed to the ultimate goal of winning the trophy.

“This victory has brought joy and smiles to the faces of Nigerians. I want you to sustain this triumphant momentum and go all the way to lift the trophy.’’

He, then, commended Nigerians for supporting the Eagles and pledged that the National Assembly would take necessary steps to reward the team.

“I salute Nigerians for their overwhelming support to the Eagles. We at the National Assembly will do the needful to reward them.’’

The Senate President urged Nigerians to pray for the continued success of the team when they battle Mali in the semi-finals.

In a related development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the Super Eagles’ victory over the Elephants of Cote D’ Ivoire as a good omen and a sign that the nation will soon surmount all its challenges under the present dispensation.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement yesterday said the party was overjoyed that the players did not let Nigerians down, adding that the victory was an indication that Nigeria is already coming out of the woods in all spheres of life.

The party said the victory over the Elephants, who had in the past stopped the Eagles in the tournament was an indication that nothing is impossible for Nigeria and that the doors have been opened for the nation to achieve other goals.

“The victory of the Super Eagles is a good omen. It is a sign of good things to come. The PDP sees it as a sign of a new beginning. It shows that we, as a nation can surmount all our problems. It is an indication that there is nothing impossible and that collectively we will overcome all the challenges we are facing as a nation. We will surmount all of them the way we surmounted the Elephants”, he said.

Stating that the victory did not come to it as a surprise, the party called on Nigerians to always believe in the potentials of the nation and urged pessimists to turn a new leaf especially as it has become clear that the country has already started experiencing a new dawn .

The PDP reminded that as a party that has the interest of the nation at heart, it had joined other well meaning Nigerians in praying for the Eagles. It said the victory showed that God answers prayers.

It however charged the team not to relax at this moment but to increase their zeal as they meet their next opponent in the semi final stage.

It told the players not to forget that millions of Nigerians are now counting on them to bring the cup home at the end of the tournament adding that they cannot afford to fail the nation at this critical time.

Each Super Eagles player yesterday pocketed $15,000 (about N2.4million) each for beating Cote d’Ivoire and qualifying for the semi-final of the 2013 AFCON.

A top Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official disclosed that each player will also be $20,000 richer if the team triumphs in the semi-final.

For victory in the championship game on February 10, inside the National Stadium in Johannesburg, each player will pocket another $30,000.

Each player received $30,000 a day after the team qualified for the quarter-final last Tuesday.

Team sponsor, Guinness has also made a financial commitment for goals scored at the AFCON, while the Eagles are expecting billionaire, Aliko Dangote to splash more cash after they reached the last eight.

Each player was paid about $80,000 when Nigeria finished third at the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola.

Yesterday afternoon in Rustenburg, the Eagles faced 1992 champions, Cote d’Ivoire, and at the end of the game, trounced the Elephants, 2-1 to advance to the semi-finals.

The Super Eagles will now meet Mali, which eliminated hosts, South Africa in the quarter-final match last Saturday.