The story of Sunday Mba, Nigeria's unexpected hero at the 2013 Nations Cup

Soccer has A thing For produce THE unlikely, if In THE form of A modest the nation fairy tale increase Or A soccer club reach greatness against all the chances - like Greece has THE 2004 euros And Leicester The city sensational First League earn In 2016.

Or THE event by which A previously unknown player gets up above expectations In THE most unlikely fashion, exit their fingerprints In THE Thu.

at Eder history agrees RIGHT In THE last category. But three years Before her surprising ascension Since anonymity has hero Status In her country of Portugal, A history of similar plot unfolded In THE from South advice of Africa - the history of Nigeria Sunday Mba has THE 2013 Africa Cup of Country In South Africa.

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Below THE stewardship of THE now deceased Stephane Keshi, Nigeria had A direct March has THE 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, sender Rwanda And Liberia In two qualification Sleeves Fr itinerary. Nigeria was SO drawn In A difficult Band VS next to prevailing champions Zambia, Burkinabé Faso, And Ethiopia.

On January 9, 2013, Keshi revealed her 23 men tournament list. Keeping with THE model, THE team, which included Chelsea pair Mikel Obi And Victor Moses, Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuelle Emenike, And CSKA that of Moscow Ahmed Moses, was mostly compound of players playing In European leagues. In contrast, those WHO folded their trade In THE Nigerian league continued has receive THE short END of THE stick; only six of them were selected. Even SO, Keshi received critical Since a few quarters For her persistence with THE domestic players has THE costs of other established based abroad stars.

This was (And keep on going has be) A time When THE the nation very best footballers competed In miscellaneous leagues around Europe, And do up THE core of THE national team. This has has been especially SO Since THE turn of THE millennium, When THE Nigerian league began has decline And lose audience due has administrative inefficiency, which explain THE moans on Keshi selection choice.

A of THE little home players selected was Sunday Mba, A relatively unknown Midfielder. Mba, 24 years old has THE time, was on THE books of Rangers International (costs disabled A to spell has companion Nigerian First League side Warri Wolves).

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Artwork by Onkar Shirsekar

Born In Aba, A vibrant commercial city In Abia State In South East Nigeria, Sunday Mba discovered her love For soccer has A very young age, playing For to break up...