New coach Stephen Keshi had brought young, home-based players such as Sunday Mba and Godfrey Oboabona, and foreign-based players like Victor Moses, Vincent Enyeama, Emmanuel Emenike, Brown Ideye, Mikel John Obi and Uwa Elderson Echiéjilé who were crucial to Nigeria's run in the tournament.

[9] In the quarters, they defeated pre-tournament favorites Ivory Coast 2–1 in a shocking upset where Emenike and Mba scored goals.

[10] Keshi's gamble of including six home-based players in the squad paid further dividends as Nigeria crushed Mali 4–1 in the semis (goalscorers Echiejele, Ideye, Musa and Emenike[11])[12] If the disputed goal is included, Emenike will be the tournament's joint top scorer with four goals along with Ghana's Mubarak Wakaso coming into the final.

[13] The turnaround came with a 4–0 thrashing of Ethiopia, where Traore, Jonathan Pitroipa and Djakaridja Kone all scored,[14] before drawing with Zambia 0–0 to send the reigning champions home for the first time since 1992.

[25] Early play in the match was characterised by bursts down the wings from Victor Moses, and two close chances for the Super Eagles.

The first was a seventh-minute header from Efe Ambrose off a Moses' free kick, and the second a Brown Ideye shot that flew over the crossbar.

[25] In the 77th minute, Wilfried Sanou forced a fingertip save from Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to prevent an equaliser.