Sunday Mba: African Legend of the Week

As part of Goal’s new weekly series, we remember a legend that burned brightly but briefly.

On the day that the Goal 50 launches for its ninth year , we introduce Sunday Mba of Nigeria as our African Legend of the Week.The 27-year-old may have disappeared off the map as quickly as he arrived, but his impact””while brief””will never be forgotten by any who experienced his rise to prominence during the heady days of 2013.Mba, of course, was the hitherto unknown midfielder who stepped into the limelight during Nigeria’s Nations Cup campaign, scoring two winners and playing a key role as the Super Eagles completed their hat-trick of continental titles.But then, as quickly as he arrived, the Yeni Malatyaspor man departed, making just seven further starts for Nigeria.A legend in an unconventional sense, perhaps, but a legend nonethelessDuring his golden week in South Africa, Mba appeared to be a complete unknown quantity for Nigeria’s opponents, and while he certainly was that, he also offered an eye-catching unpredictability that was evidenced, notably, with his dazzling winner against the Ivorians.As Solace Chukwu said, “Most distinct about Mba was his spontaneity; the ability to improvise with his fearless running, immediately shifting his team through the gears and changing the tempo at the drop of a hat.”As the third man in Nigeria’s midfield alongside John Obi Mikel and Ogenyi Onazi, Mba was no passmaster, but he was an energetic, dynamic presence well who worked the channels effectively, could be dangerous from distance (just ask Victor Valdes in the Confederations Cup) and linked up well with forwards.To date, he has scored five goals in 18 outings for the national side, a better goals-to-games ratio than Nigerian greats Jay-Jay Okocha or Nwankwo KanuMba was one of the key actors as Nigeria won their third Nations Cup, ending the West African giants’ 19-year wait for the continental crown.He was an unknown quantity ahead of the tournament, having only made four appearances for the national side, but broke into the starting lineup in the final group game””a Victor Moses-inspired victory over Ethiopia””before scoring the winner against both the Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter-finals and Burkina Faso in the final.Nigeria were favourites heading into the final, but appeared weary and struggled to impose themselves, before Mba’s volleyed winner, with the midfielder flicking the ball over Bakary Kone before thundering his finish past Daouda Diakite.Of course, it was Mba’s goal against Burkina Faso which brought home the Nations Cup, but while the Super Eagles were, by this stage, favourites for the title, it was his strike against favourites the Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter-final which was the turning point for Stephen Keshi’s side.After an unconvincing group stage, Mba’s winner””following a mazy run, 12 minutes before the end of the match””ended the hopes of Didier Drogba’s Golden Generation and made Nigeria believe that they could go all the way.Quite simply, the regret for Mba is that he never built on his Nations Cup success in 2013””either with club or country.Astonishingly, he never scored again for the Super Eagles after his Afcon-winning final, and never featured for the national side again after 2013.Only 18 months after their Afcon success, the continental champions travelled to the World Cup in Brazil”¦but without Nations Cup hero Mba.At club level, a dispute between Warri Wolves and Enyimba killed his post-Nations Cup momentum, and after being linked””somewhat astonishingly””with the likes of Arsenal, he ended up switching to CA Bastia in the French lower leagues.Still only 27, it’s hard to see him playing for Nigeria again anytime soon.“We had a 20 percent chance but my boys showed character and this is the character I know that Nigeria have.” ”“ Stephen Keshi, speaking after Sunday Mba’s wondergoal had downed the Cote d’Ivoire.“It’s hard to reconcile with what has followed, but in that two-week span, Sunday Mba turned in three big-name performances to rival Nwankwo Kanu’s Atlanta 96 star turn.” ”“ Solace Chukwu,