Africa Cup of Nations final as it happened

So, that is that. Another Africa Cup of Nations comes to an end. Nigeria struggled in the group stages, but they peaked at the right time. A well deserved triumph for the Super Eagles after 19 years of misery.

Thanks for all the tweets, texts and messages over the weeks.

From me and my colleagues - goodnight.

Aye! Aye! Some of the players are wearing 'Nigeria Champions of Africa' T-shirts. Er... they were printed in quick time.

The Nigeria players and staff are ready to collect their medals and the Africa Cup of Nations trophy.

The Burkina Faso players go up to pick up their losers' medals. They also get a trophy, which is nice.

The trophy presentation is about to begin. The Confederation of African Football flag has been handed to a representative from Morocco, who will be hosting the competition in 2015.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi is being carried around the pitch on the shoulders of his backroom staff. He's a big lad.

The Nigeria players, in true championship-winning fashion, are running around the pitch carrying their country's flag. In contrast, Burkina Faso's Paul Koulibaly is in tears.

Stephen Keshi captained Nigeria to the 1994 title now he has coached the Super Eagles to their third Africa Cup of Nations title. In all truth, they were rarely troubled. It seemed a step to far for Burkina Faso - but what a tournament they had.

Nigeria are very much in 'hoof the ball clear' territory.

There are only two minutes of normal time remaining. Burkina need a miracle.

Nigeria twice go close to scoring inside a minute. Victor Moses goes close from two yards but he's denied by keeper Daouda Diakite then Brown Ideye fails to get on the end of a ball across goal.

It's all a bit subdued inside Soccer City. Burkina Faso just look devoid of ideas. Nigeria are cruising at the moment,

Just before that Sanou chance, Nigeria concocted the move of the match when Victor Moses broke and played a great ball to Ahmed Musa, who was clear eight yards from goal - unfortunately for the Super Eagles, the substitute fell over before the pass reached him.

This pitch is terrible. Players are finding it hard to judge what weight to put on their passes. It's the final for pity's sake!

Nigeria's Elderson Echiejile is on the deck - I didn't quite see what happened. He looks OK but they've brought the stretcher on.

After all that Burkina have a free-kick from 40 yards. It arrives at the head of Aristide Bance, who directs his effort into the hands of Vincent Enyeama.

I have been talking up Victor Moses but he made a poor decision by not passing to a Nigeria team-mate after running 40 yards into the Burkina area.

Burkina Faso still haven't mounted anything resembling an attack. They need fresh ideas.

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What did you make of that? It's not that Nigeria necessarily deserved the lead, but they did look more threatening. Burkina's forwards Jonathan Pitroipa, Aristide Bance and Prejuce Nakoulma have not shone yet. Their coach Paul Put needs to deliver one heck of a half-time speech.

We have two minutes of stoppage time.

I have just had this pointed out by my colleague Piers Edwards, who says that the last four finals have produced just two goals. Very much #justsaying

There are less that 15 minutes until half-time. Apart from one half and one three-quarters of a chance created by Nigeria, both teams are still trying to settle into a rhythm.

Nigeria's Sunday Mba plays in fellow forward Ikechukwu Uche, but the Villarreal man's touch is too heavy.

It's that man Aristide Bance again. This time the Augsburg forward fizzes a 25-yard free-kick about two yards wide.

Burkina Faso's coach Paul Put has had a controversial career. BBC's Piers Edwards focuses on the man from Belgium on the BBC African Football page.

I guess it was a chance for Burkina Faso. Forward Aristide Bance, a star performer in the semi-final against Ghana, turns and thunders in a strike from 20 yards that flies a few feet over the bar.

More action in the Burkina area. Chelsea's flying winger Victor Moses motors down the left and fires in a low square ball that Daouda Diakite just about gathers.

If you're wondering why the pitch in Soweto is not in the best state, it might be because the Red Hot Chili Peppers were playing there last weekend.

I'm just wondering if Nigeria will rue those misses? Burkina Faso's defence have ridden their luck at times in the tournament, but their attack is quite potent.

Nigeria have a free-kick after Brown Ideye goes to ground. Should that have been given? Efe Ambrose has a free header from 12 yards, but sends his effort over. A golden chance for the Super Eagles.

Nigeria's Ikechukwu Uche tries to beat the offside trap, but he goes a touch too early after Brown Ideye tries to play him in.

Chelsea's John Obi Mikel takes one in the stomach from Burkina Faso's Charles Kabore - but the Nigeria player seems OK.

There are six minutes until the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off. The national anthems are being played inside Soccer City.

The teams are being introduced to South Africa president Jacob Zuma and Fifa president Sepp Blatter. It's a noisy stadium. Guess what's making the most noise? That's right, those blinking vuvuzelas!

There are 12 minutes until kick-off, but the crowd inside have already been treated to a dazzling closing ceremony.

Four Hawks fighter jets flew overhead and there was plenty of dancing and music, including the jazz pop sounds of South African act Mi Casa.

Nigeria fans then erupted when their country's afro-beat star D'Banj took to the stage.

Let's hope the match is as thriller.

Bookies are usually right, with Nigeria clear favourites to win the final, but they might be proved wrong by a famed preacher.

According to a report on French-language site Burkina 24, Mor Alim Kabore contacted the spirits in 1998 to find out whether Burkina Faso would win the tournament that year.

He is understood to have said that the spirits correctly predicted Egypt would win, but that Burkina Faso would be victorious in 2013. Strange, because at that time the tournament was played in even-numbered years.

Where's Mulder and Scully?

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is in Jo'berg for the final. World football's head honcho had this to say when asked whether he would step down from his lofty position when his current term ends in 2015:

"As far as 2015 is concerned, no-one can see into the future but I will fight for the reform of Fifa and I will fight to keep what Fifa is now, a federation of national associations and not a holding of confederations [who make decisions]. I will fight that until the last day of my mandate in 2015.

"My mandate ends in 2015, if God gives me my health, and I know I have to stop but I don't know when I will stop."

Thanks for clearing that up, Sepp.

Remember, you can share your thoughts with the BBC reporters and fellow fans via #BBCAFCON (Twitter page @bbclovefootball), the LoveAfricanFootball Facebook page as well as the Google+ community page Love African Football.

You can also text 81111 (UK only) or +44 77 86 20 50 75 (international).

Don't be shy.

Burkina Faso coach Paul Put:

"We are looking forward to facing one of the biggest footballing nations in Africa with so many top players in their team.

"We are the underdogs, so for us it is already a victory to be in the final, and anything can happen in football, as we know.

"We have seen a big progression in the Nigeria team since that first game, but our team has improved as well. I think we have matured since that first game - but the final will still be very tough. The two games won't have much in common."

Having played against Burkina Faso earlier in the tournament, it is no longer a journey into the unknown for Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi.

"I think it is more beneficial, because we didn't know Burkina Faso before that game, and maybe they didn't know us," he said on the 1-1 draw.

"But we have learnt from the mistakes we made in that game, and now have to prepare for the final accordingly."

There are less than 40 minutes before kick-off, so time to read what the respective managers have had to say in the build-up.

Hands up those who thought Burkina Faso, a team from a small landlocked country in west Africa, would make the final? Not many hands.

Until this year Les Etalons (The Stallions) have not made much of an impact at the Cup of Nations ever since they first attempted to qualify in 1968.

They did, as hosts, reach the semi-finals in 1998 only to go out to eventual champions Egypt.

Belgian coach Paul Put, who managed Gambia for four years, has got the class of 2013 playing with confidence and great attacking verve as demonstrated in their semi-final victory over Ghana on penalties.

It seemed that one of their key attackers Jonathan Pitroipa would miss the match having been handed a second yellow, then red for diving.

However, Tunisian referee Slim Jdidi saw sense and contacted the Confederation of African Football and admitted he made a mistake.

The midfielder's pace along with threat of forwards Aristide Bance of Augsburg and Gornik Zabrze's Prejuce Nakoulma should give Nigeria plenty of headaches.

So, on to today's showpiece Burkina Faso v Nigeria - not a final line-up many would have predicted.

Stephen Keshi-coached Nigeria stumbled their way through the group stages before they actually started playing like they were one of the pre-tournament favourites. But it's all about timing isn't it?

In the quarter-finals, they defeated recorded a 2-1 win over fellow heavyweights Ivory Coast.

The Super Eagles followed that up with an outstanding 4-1 win against Mali, who were 3-0 down by half-time. If they play anything like they did in that game then Burkina Faso will find it very tough. This, however, is their first final since 2000, so they are likely to be nervous too.

Emenike is out, but Chelsea winger Victor Moses is expected to start. Nigeria can also rely on Sunday Mba, Godfrey Oboabona and the experienced John Mikel Obi.

The stadium in Soweto is currently half full, but they are being royally entertained by the closing ceremony.

Alex Bassey on Facebook: "Gr8t. Its a must win 4 d Eagles."

Gerald Lavet Mtonga on Facebook: "Ma money on Burkina Faso."

So Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi will be without key striker Emmanuel Emenike, who is still suffering from a thigh strain. That's a bit of a blow for the Super Eagles. Villarreal's Ikechukwu Uche comes in for him.

Now then, we have some early and very important team news.

After 22 days and 31 matches, we have arrived at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final.

It's a David v Goliath match-up with Burkina Faso, who had only once before reached the last four, against the might of two-time champions and overwhelming favourites Nigeria. They played each other earlier in the tournament, with Nigeria held to a 1-1 draw by the surprise Group C winners.

The FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, which played host to the World Cup final, is the venue for the last act of what has been a splendid tournament.

Kick off is at 18:30 GMT, but stay here for all the pre-match build-up.