Huge play for Nigeria's victory in local papers - Nigerian newspapers Monday joined in the celebration of the victory of the country's senior national football team, the Super Eagles, over their Burkina counterparts to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
Spontaneous celebrations broke out across Nigeria Sunday night as the Super Eagles romped to a 1-0 win over the Stallions of Burkina Faso to lift their third Nations Cup title, following victories in 1980 and 1994.
The celebrations were echoed by local newspapers on Monday, with almost all of them reporting the victory on their front pages, where they also splashed colourful pictures of the Eagles lifting the trophy that has eluded them for all of 19 years.
'Eagles end 19-year wait, lift Nations Cup' was the banner headline in the PUNCH, which reported that home-based Sunday Mba scored in the 40th minute for Nigeria on Sunday night to end the country’s 19-year wait to win the African Nations Cup.
'Nigeria's magical hour' was the headline in The NATION, which has a rider: 'Super Eagles beat Burkina Faso 1-0 to end 19-year wait'
The VANGUARD says '19 years after: Nigeria rules again' while the National Mirror reports: 'Super Eagles lift Nations Cup...beat Burkina Faso 1-0'.
'Eagles lift Nations Cup, Beat B'Faso 1-0.....Break 19-year jinx' (GUARDIAN); '19 years after: Eagles king of Africa (LEADERSHIP); 'Nigeria rule Africa again...' (Daily Trust); 'Super Eagles beat Burkina Faso 1-0 to become champions of Africa' (PEOPLES DAILY); '19 years after, Nigeria is back as African champions' (THISDAY) and 'Eagles Punish Burkina Faso, win AFCON 2013' (SUN) were some of the other headlines on the Nigeria victory
The Nigerian team is expected to arrive in the capital city of Abuja by charter flight Tuesday, early enough for a reception by President Goodluck Jonathan in the capital city of Abuja later in the day.
Pana 11/02/2013