AFCON 2013 QUARTER FINAL VICTORY: Sunday Mba Score A Great Point For Home Based Players In Nigeria

When Nigeria national team coach, Stephen Keshi, selected six home based players for AFCON 2013. Ex-Super Eagles player, Jonathan Akpoborie said he has taken too much of a gamble. I must confess I felt so too. But were we wrong. Yes!

Now, it's paying off. The two home based players, Sunday Mba and Godfrey Oboabona are holding their own as important players of the first team. 

And Sunday Mba, who scored the winning goal that ousted the tournament favorite, Ivory Coast, during the quarter final match; and was also voted 'man of the match' in that game, has sure scored a great point that the home based players are equally good as their foreign based counterparts.

One man that would feel so vindicated is Emeka Nwani, co-anchor of LTV sports splash program. Nwani has always believed in the home based players. And he was so sure that the six selected players for the AFCON tournament would do well. Nwani insisted that Nigeria Premier League (NPL), inspite of it's short comings, is as competitive as most top leagues in the world. And the home based players at AFCON tournament has proved him right.

You will never have believed that a player like Sunday Mba plays for Warri Wolves FC in Nigeria. His combatant style of play is world class quality. He has the ability of both an offensive and defensive midfielder. And you cannot just wish away a player like that, not with the way he wins the ball from opponent and the way he joins the attack simultaneously - So energetic.

No wonder Keshi has always fielded him ahead of more established players like, Obiora Nwankwo, Reuben Gabriel...  Mba has sure sold himself to the world. You can be sure that the summer transfer market would do him good.

Keshi New squad is gradually maturing into a team. Special of note is how he transformed the defense line. Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona are combining quite well at the central defense. The midfield of Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Fegor Ogude are showing lot of resilience. And the attack of Emmanuel Emenike, Brown Ideye and Sunday Mba poses a strong challenge for any opponent. We are yet to see the best of this evolving team.