The size of an achievement is determined by its weight or significance, and for Nigeria and South Africa in 1994 and 1996 respectively, wining the Africa Cup of Nations brought relief as much as it brought elation.
After going 14 years without the continental crown, Stephen Keshi was captain when the Super Eagles finally ended their hoodoo at the showpiece in Tunisia. To many Nigerians, it was deserved too after near misses in 1984, 1988 and 1990 where they finished runners-up.
Keshi actually featured in those twin defeats at the hands of Cameroon in ’84 and ’88, so the win in Tunis at the twilight of his career was probably the universe rewarding him after heartaches in previous tournaments.