Football Live

Friday January 25, 2008 Finished Essipong Stadium

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Nigeria

Mali

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Nigeria
    • Mali
    • FT And there is the final whistle - Nigeria are in real trouble - they need to beat Benin and hope the Ivory Coast beat Mali or else they are OUT! Thanks for joining us.
    • 90+2 Diakite puts in a good low ball and Kanoute has a chance to put Nigeria out of the tournament but he scuffs the attempt.
    • 90' Another half-chance for Uche with a header but again it is high and wide.
    • 89' Olofinjana with wins a header in the box and it creeps towards the corner, but again, the power isn't there.
    • 88' Substitue Makinwa gets another shot on target but again it is a poor one - Nigeria are running out of time.
    • 86' Mali make their second change - Dembele comes on for Amadou Sidibe.
    • 86' Diarra with a very bad tackle on Uche and he will now miss the Ivory Coast match which could be crucial.
    • 85' Nigeria make their last change with Makinwa coming on for Obinna.
    • 83' Low drive from distance from Mikel goes just wide - a decent effort although Sidibe might have had it covered.
    • 82' OFF THE BAR FROM KEITA - great shot from 25 yards out but it hits the top of the bar - Nigeria are pushing men forward now and Mali could take advantage on the break.
    • 79' NIGERIA HAVE THE BALL IN THE NET - but it is disallowed - Yakubu was there to tap home a low cross from Utaka but he was in an offside position.
    • 77' Still no sign of a goal from either side - this will suit Mali but Nigeria could be in big trouble if they only draw here.
    • 74' Nice little fick over the top by Uche gives Yakubu a chance to hit a half-volley but he belts it miles into the stands.
    • 72' Nick quick turn from Uche as he gets on the end of a flick on from Olofinjana but there is no power in his shot and Sidibe can save another half chance.
    • 70' Danny Shittu fires a free-kick from over 40 yards out - a decent effort but it would needed to have been an amazing effort to go in, Sidibe saves.
    • 67' Just seen a shot of Berti Vogts on the Nigerian bench and he looks very nervous - he knows his job is on the line.
    • 65' Great corner whipped in from Keita - Diarra, Coulibaly, and Kanoute all nearly get on the end of it but it eventually falls wide.
    • 64' The game has gone back into a rot - however, all it takes is one moment of magic to turn the game on its head.
    • 60' An Obinna shot is blocked and then Mahamadou Sidibe shows great bravery to dive and gather the ball ahead of Yakubu.
    • 58' Uche comes on for the poor Odemwingie.
    • 57' Nice interplay by Nigeria and Yakubu looked like he was going to get a shot away but Coulibaly makes a great challenge again to block it.
    • 55' Sidibe has a chance to put in a cross in a very good area but he fires it over and wide - Kanoute is furious.
    • 52' Good stuff by Utaka on the right and then he puts a low ball into Odemwingie in the box but his first touch let's him down.
    • 49' And now Kanoute screws a half chance wide - much better game here in the early stages of the half.
    • 48' From the resulting corner Ejide comes for and misses the ball - he escapes though.
    • 47' Best moment of the match so far Keita is allowed to go forward and all the way to just outside the box by an Nigerian defence that was just inviting the shot. So Keita let fly with a good low effort but Ejide gets down to make a very good save.
    • 46' Great ball whipped in by Yakubu and Sidibe has to punch away - he is lucky that it doesn't fall to Utaka.
    • 46' And we are back underway - can somebody ignite this nrvy affair?
    • 46' An interesting sub at half-time by Nigeria - Utaka is on for Martins.
    • HT And there is the half-time whistle - bit of a snoozefest to be honest - let's hope for better after the break.
    • 44' Woeful cross in a good area from Taiwo sums up the quality (or lack thereof) in this match so far. If you are stuck in work not able to see the game - don't worry - you are missing VERY little.
    • 42' Keita has been a bit hot and cold with his free-kicks today but he whips in a good ball this time and Coulibaly gets his head on it but he was under pressure and can only head over the bar.
    • 40' Good run into the box by Sissoko but he then loses balance and dives looking for a penalty. Moments later Yobo makes a great tackle to stop Kanoute in his tracks.
    • 39' Another poor shot from distance - this time by Traore - both sides really struggling to create meaningful chances.
    • 38' Olofinjana flies into a challenge and he is given a yellow-card. He will now miss Nigeria's final group game against Benin.
    • 36' Great little dummy by Martins gives him at little bit of space but then he fires the chance miles over the bar - chance gone.
    • 35' A bit of head tennis in the box is ended by a stylish little header back to the keeper by Diarra.
    • 33' And the band played on...some nice music in the ground tonight - shame about the football - very tight and cagey so far.
    • 30' Keita needs some treatment after getting on the wrong end of a 50-50 challenge with Olofinjana but he looks to be ok.
    • 28' Some good crossing on both sides but that is about as good as it is getting - Adama Coulibaly at the heart of the Mali defence has been the game's outstanding player so far.
    • 24' Great challenge from Coulibaly who slides in to deny Martins - no margin for error in that tackle - any mistake and it would have been a penalty.
    • 23' Martins tries to loop a ball over his head and on target as a cross comes in from the left but it goes well over the bar. Still Nigeria looking the more likely.
    • 19' Odemwingie nicks the ball at the end line and pulls it back for Yakubu but there is no power on the shot from the Everton man.
    • 17' First decent save of the match comes from Sidibe who gets down quickly to stop a low effort from just outside the box from Martins - a save you would have expected him to make, but solid nonetheless.
    • 16' Nigeria have just survived a good spell of pressure from Mali - but still neither keeper has had to really work.
    • 14' Danny Shittu storms in with a last ditch tackle to deny Freddie Kanoute getting in.
    • 12' Great stuff by Tamboura who stormed down the left and then drilled a low cross across the face of the goal but there is no Mali player there to turn it in.
    • 11' This is a bit like a cagey boxing match so far. A few little jabs by each side but neither side has landed with a punch of any significance.
    • 8' Obinna now with a half chance at the back post but he fires well over - still Nigeria starting to get on top of this match.
    • 7' Yakubu out powers Kante and gets a shot away - it was on target but a comfortable save by Sidibe. In any event the referee decided that Yakubu was a bit too agressive.
    • 6' Long ball from Mikel nearly finds Martins in the box but Coulibaly does well to sheppered the ball out of play.
    • 3' Mali have a free kick on the right of the area Keita whips it but it is a poor cross and Shittu is there to clear. Cagey start to this match.
    • 1' And Nigeria get us underway...MASSIVE game this.
    • - Meanwhile, Liverpool's soon to be Juventus player Mohamed Sissoko makes his first start of the tournament.
    • - Find the teams below - Interestingly there is no Utaka or Kanu for Nigeria.
    • - Welcome to our second live match from Sekondi and it is make-or-break time for the Super Eagles from Nigeria. If they lose they are out, and even a draw will put them in trouble.

  • Summary

    • 83' Low drive from distance from Mikel goes just wide - a decent effort although Sidibe might have had it covered.
    • 82' OFF THE BAR FROM KEITA - great shot from 25 yards out but it hits the top of the bar - Nigeria are pushing men forward now and Mali could take advantage on the break.
    • 79' NIGERIA HAVE THE BALL IN THE NET - but it is disallowed - Yakubu was there to tap home a low cross from Utaka but he was in an offside position.
    • 47' Best moment of the match so far Keita is allowed to go forward and all the way to just outside the box by an Nigerian defence that was just inviting the shot. So Keita let fly with a good low effort but Ejide gets down to make a very good save.

Live Team Line-Up

  • Nigeria

    Manager: Berti Vogts

    On the Field

    • Ejide
    • Yobo Yellow Card
    • Shittu
    • Nwaneri
    • Taiwo
    • Olofinjana
    • Mikel
    • Odemwingie Substitution Out (58′)
    • Martins Substitution Out (46′)
    • Nsofor Obinna Substitution Out (85′)
    • Aiyegbeni

    Subs

    • Afolabi
    • Etuhu
    • Enyeama
    • Utaka Substitution In (46′)
    • Uche Substitution In (58′)
    • Makinwa Substitution In (85′)
    • Emeghara
    • Eromoigbe
    • Aiyenugba
    • Apam

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Mali

    Manager: Jean-François Jodar

    On the Field

    • Sidibé Substitution Out (87′)
    • Diamoutene
    • Kanté
    • Coulibaly
    • Tamboura
    • Sidibé
    • Keita
    • Diarra Yellow Card
    • Sissoko Substitution Out (82′)
    • Kanouté
    • Traoré Substitution Out (74′)

    Subs

    • Dissa
    • Traoré
    • Touré
    • Sidibe
    • Traoré
    • Diallo Substitution In (74′)
    • Diakité
    • Diakité Substitution In (82′)
    • Koné
    • Dembelé Substitution In (87′)

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None