Nigeria's third AFCON trophy was won ten years ago.

Nigeria won their third Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso exactly ten years ago, setting off widespread celebrations all over the nation.

In a closely contested game against the Stallions at the National Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday Mba scored the game's only goal.

In the 39th minute, he gave powerful Nigeria the breakthrough, flicking the ball over Mohamed Koffi before volleying it into the far corner to clinch the Super Eagles' victory.

"Winning this is mostly for my country; when I joined the squad a year and a half ago, my goal was to bring happiness to all Nigerians and build a fantastic Nigerian team. The late Keshi noted at the time, "We are not there yet; it is still under progress.

The Eagles of Mali were defeated 4-1 by the Stephen Keshi-led team in the semifinal. That followed a victory over Ivory Coast in the round of eight, which many commentators characterized as a statement victory.

The Ivorians, who were heavily favored to win the tournament in South Africa, faced a Nigerian team that had struggled to make an impression early in the competition.

The Super Eagles initially gave up against an Ivory Coast team led by Didier Drogba that was vying for their first continental championship, but Mba and Emmanuel Emenike helped Nigeria come back and win 2-1.

After drawing their first two games in Group C, which also included Burkina Faso, Zambia, and Ethiopia, the West Africans managed just one victory—in their last game.

Nigeria last won an AFCON in 2013. After failing to qualify for the tournament in 2015 and 2017, the squad was only able to place third in the 2019 edition.