CHAN2014: Sunday Mba double crashes Cote d’Ivoire Again

African Nations Cup 2013 hero, Sunday Mba Saturday proved to be the slayer of the Elephants of Cote’d Ivoire, when he scored a brace and made two other goals in the home-based Eagles’ 4-1 victory over their Ivorian counterparts in the CAF African Nations Championship first leg qualifier decided at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna.
Mba during the Nations Cup in South Africa scored the winning goal in the semi-final clash against the Elephants and in Kaduna, he justified his high rating in African football and barring any unforeseen circumstances, Mba will return to South Africa in February where the CHAN tournament will hold.
Gambo Mohammed, the Kano Pillars striker who missed a seater in the Confederations Cup match against Spain in Brazil, opened scoring in the 14th minute after he was set free in the Ivorian
box by Mba whose tailor made pass made it all certain that Gambo will make amends for that miss. The lanky striker made a good turn and took his spot in the far right of Sylvian Gbohouo in goal for Cote d’Ivoire.Mba, doubled the lead with his trade mark shooting from outside the box in in the 28th minute. However, the Ivorians fought back causing anxious moments for the Eagles and just before the break, they were rewarded with their only goal of the match when Coulibally Fousseny capitalised on a hesitant clearance by the Eagles defence to slot the ball pass Chijioke Agbim in goal for the Eagles.
The Ivorians’ fighting spirit was deflated in the second half when Asale Rodger handled the ball in the box and was subsequently sent off for dissent by the referee. Mba made no mistake from the spot to register Nigeria’s third goal.
As if that was not enough Baresi Gloudeou was also sent off for elbowing Mba and from then it was lights out for the Ivorians.
However, the Eagles failed to find the knock out punch to bury their opponents but it was Ifeanyi Ede who finally hammered home the last nail in the 83rd minute to put the match beyond the reach of the Ivorians. The second leg comes up on July 27 and a good result for the Eagles in that match will see them through to South Africa.