Nigeria’s Mba dreams of Europe

LAGOS, Nigeria - Agence France-Presse

Nigeria’s Sunday Mba scores in their African Cup of Nations tournament final soccer match on Feb.10. AP Photo

Nigeria’s unlikely hero in the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Sunday Mba, has said he hopes he has done enough to earn a dream move to Europe.

On Feb. 10 in Johannesburg, the 24-year-old Warri Wolves forward scored the goal that ended Nigeria’s 19-year wait for a continental glory as the team won its third Nations Cup trophy at the expense of Burkina Faso.

In the 1994 final in Tunisia, Emmanuel Amuneke came off the bench to fire two goals past Zambia and give the Super Eagles their second Nations Cup triumph after they first won the tournament on home soil in 1980. Amuneke, who was then playing for top Egyptian side Zamalek, would subsequently move to Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon and eventually Barcelona.

“I hope I can also get a deal in Europe after what I achieved at the Nations Cup,” said the former Nigeria U17 star, who was also the match winner against star-studded Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals of the competition.

His exploits have already sparked off interest from top German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. In 2008, he was close to teaming up with Spanish lower league side Elche, but the deal collapsed soon after.