Africa cup of nations: Nigerians favourite but victory is not certain
Will the fancied Super Eagles outplay the Burkina Faso Stallions
Football experts suggest that it might not be so easy

Follow the final live here
by Elliot Ross for Africa is 3 months ago
Also about this match
Africa Cup of Nations 2013: Sunday Mba gives Nigeria victory at last
Burkina Faso heighten the surprise factor in Africa Cup of Nations

Nineteen years ago, a Super Eagles team captained by one Stephen Okechukwu Keshi won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunis. Will it be Keshi's time again in Soweto today?

We leave the serious predictions to the professionals. Check out the latest from BBC reporter Peter Okwoche (we love him) who staged a pre-final prediction match between a bunch of kids. The video is cute, but we're suspicious that Team Nigeria seemed to get all the bigger kids. Where was the Sowetan Burkinabés version of Dagano? Anyway, the game ends with an assured 3-1 victory for Nigeria, but then what would you expect from a game set up by a reporter named Okwoche?

Others aren't so sure about the Super Eagles chances. Top football analyst Michael Cox has detailed tactical analysis (well worth reading to get a sense of where today's game will be won and lost) of both teams' semi-final victories, Burkina's over Ghana and Nigeria's over Mali. Cox likes Nigeria, but on the strength of what he saw in the semis, he reckons Burkina may be the better side: "if they play with the same level of cohesion and fluidity [as they did vs Ghana], Burkina Faso will defeat Nigeria on Sunday evening."

Cox reserves his strongest praise for Aristide Bancé, one of this blog's favourite players at Afcon:

"This was as good a centre-forward display as you'll see in international football. Bancé was involved in everything – he sprinted in behind for chances on the counter, he had a header saved on the goal-line from a corner, he could drop deep and encourage the wide players beyond him. He even showed great defensive ability – at one point rushing back to stop a Ghana counter-attack himself, when most other forwards would have left that to the midfielders."

So look out for Burkina, and watch out for Bancé.

We're just hearing Emmanuel Emenike won't start the final, a big blow for the Nigerians. That man has been playing like he's a cross between Wayne Rooney and a rhinocerous. Still, the Nigerians are confident (is anyone surprised?)

Recent articles about Nigeria and Burkina Faso
Stephen Keshi has worked miracles for Nigeria, but will they keep him? 3 months ago
Africa Cup of Nations 2013: Sunday Mba gives Nigeria victory at last 3 months ago
Burkina Faso heighten the surprise factor in Africa Cup of Nations 3 months ago
Mali 1-4 Nigeria: Africa Cup of Nations semi-final – as it happened 3 months ago
Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals: giants set sights on a return to power 3 months ago

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