AFCON 2013 FINAL STARTING XI: Where Are They Now?
Edward OkaroThe Super Eagles' AFCON victory in 2013 was one that was unexpected to say the least, considering that most of the squad had never featured in Africa's premier football competition. What is more telling is the fact that of the starting XI in the final vs Burkina Faso, only Kenneth Omeruo has featured recently for the national team.
Where are they all now? Let's take a look
DEFENCE
GK: VINCENT ENYEAMA
At the time of the final, Enyeama had just concluded six fruitful years in Israel with 3 different clubs and had just signed for Lille LOSC. The rest they say, is history as he went on to be one of best African players in France during his time there. He has since retired from International duties but has not officially retired from club level and has been a free agent since he left Lille in 2018.
RB: EFE AMBROSE
The bulky full-back was a year into his stint with Scottish giants Celtic at the time of this final, and he has remained in Scotland ever since, most recently being on the books of Livingston FC.
RCB: KENNETH OMERUO
Omeruo was on loan at Dutch Eredivisie outfit ADO Den Haag from Chelsea at that point. He has since left the Blues and is currently starring for CD Leganes in the Spanish 2nd tier.
Embed from Getty ImagesLCB: GODFREY OBOABONA
The towering CB was a member of the home-based contingent at the time, and his performances in the tournament earned him a move to Caykur Rizespor in the Turkish top flight. He can be found these days in Georgia with Dinamo Batumi.
LB: ELDERSON ECHIEJILE
Elderson, who was on the books of Stade Rennais in France at the time, is currently without a club after leaving HJK Helsinki of Finland.
MIDFIELD
RCM: OGENYI ONAZI
The energetic midfielder was a Lazio player at the time of this particular AFCON triumph, but has since had a prolonged spell in Turkey, with his last club being Denizlispor. He is currently a free agent.
LCM: JOHN OBI MIKEL
Erstwhile national team captain Mikel had a very decent performance in the final, he eventually called it a day on the International scene after the 2019 AFCON. He would go on to spend 4 more years at Chelsea before heading to the Far East with Tianjin Teda. He is currently back in England with Stoke City.
ATTACK
LWF: BROWN IDEYE
The journeyman forward was used in a wider role in the final, but went on to feature down the middle in the following years through stints in Ukraine, England, Greece and Turkey, where he's presently on the books of Goztepe SK.
CAM: SUNDAY MBA
Mba was the match-winner on the night, but of the starting XI in the final, he seems to be the only one whose career has been on a downward spiral since. His performances in 2013 earned him a move to modest French outfit CA Bastia. He has been without a club since leaving Yeni Malatyaspor of Turkey in 2017.
RWF: VICTOR MOSES
Victor Moses made it to the team of the tournament with some eye-catching performances. He is the only player in this starting XI still performing at an elite level, with regular outings for Inter Milan in the past season.
CF: IKECHUKWU UCHE
Uche was a prolific striker at the time for Villareal in Spain, but was largely underutilised until the final of this particular tournament. He is currently without a club after leaving Gimnastic in the Spanish 2nd tier in the early part of 2019.
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