The rise of Sunday Mba

[Folami David]

The phenomenal turnaround that Nigerian International, Sunday Mba, has experienced in the last 12 months is the stuff of which fairy tales are made.
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Mba wasn't one of the fans favourites on the eve of the competition, but the midfielder evolved into a national hero on Sunday, February 3, 2013, when his brilliant goal sent star-studded Ivory Coast out of the African Cup of Nations.
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Born on a Sunday, Mba chose a bright Sunday in Rustenburg, South Africa, to write his name in AFCON folkore.
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Sunday's historic goal makes him the first player from Nigeria's domestic league to score at the AFCON since Algiers '90.
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Back in 1990, former coach Clemens Westerhof left several big names from Europe including current manager, Stephen Keshi and opted for more players from the domestic league.
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Mba's goal was made in heaven and scored in a superb form. Indeed, there are goals and there are good goals.
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'' Mba's goal reminds me of Samuel Okwaraji's goal at the Maroc '88 AFCON. The moment he got the ball and moved past the first Ivorian, I told my friends he was heading for goal '', Henry Nwosu, who won the AFCON in 1980, said in an interview.