Nigeria and Burkina Faso seek African Cup title

JOHANNESBURG: Nigeria will be trying to lift the African Cup trophy again after nearly two decades when it faces a Nigeria is back in the final after 13 years and has a chance to win the title for the first time since it dominated African football in the 1990s.

Burkina Faso is in its first final and enters the decisive match looking to shock African football just like Zambia did when it beat Ivory Coast last year.

Burkina Faso will have leading striker Jonathan Pitroipa available after his red card in the semifinals was rescinded, but it remained unclear if injured Nigerian attacking duo Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike will be fit for the match at Soccer City.

The final will be a rematch of the teams' opener in Group C, which ended in a 1-1 draw after Nigeria conceded an injury-time equalizer in Nelspruit.

Nigeria is seeking its first title since 1994 and third overall. The Super Eagles are touted as the favorite after rebounding from a sluggish start in the group stage.

The team looked impressive when it beat Ivory Coast's star-filled squad 2-1 in the quarterfinals and trashed Seydou Keita's Mali 4-1 in the semis.

Nigeria was the team to beat in African football in the 1990s with a squad captained by current coach Stephen Keshi. It made the semifinals in five of the last seven tournaments but was never able to break through with the trophy.

Burkina Faso, ranked only 23rd in Africa entering the tournament, reached the semifinals for only the second time — and first since it hosted the tournament in 1998. The Stallions initially just hoped to make it past the group stage, but the expectations were raised after they eliminated Emmanuel Adebayor's Togo 1-0 in the quarterfinals and favorite Ghana on penalties in the semis.