Wednesday February 6, 2013 Semifinal Finished Moses Mabhida Stadium
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African Cup of Nations - Nigeria hammer Mali to march into final
Nigeria marched into their first African Cup of Nations final since 2000 after a convincing 4-1 win over Mali in the first semi-final. More
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Live Commentary
Time:90'- Mali
- Nigeria
90+4 That's the whistle, Nigeria are in their first African final for 13 years, where they will face Ghana or Burkina Faso, which is up at 6.30pm. Thanks for joining us.
90+3 Diarra with a fizzing effort that is deflected wide! A corner, but Nigeria counter and Musa is in but Tamboura slides in superbly. Corner.- 90+2 Uzoenyi with a long ball aimed at Ideye but easy for Samassa. Now Mali break as Diabate rampages through the middle, he lays it off for DIARRA who fires over!
- 90+1 Keita is indeed still on the pitch though you wouldn't know it - he sends the free-kick well over.
- 90' Onazi challenges Diabate to concede a free-kick as the board shows three minutes added time.
- 89' Samassa meets the corner with a header but it's weak and straight at Enyeama.
- 88' Diabate and Diarra combine again, with Diabate again forcing a good stop from the keepr Enyeama! Corner.
87' Emenike is down hurt, holding his thigh after landing heavily following that shot!- 86' ALMOST A FIFTH FOR NIGERIA! Fantastic long-range effort from Emenike but inches wide! And he hits the deck in pain afterwards...
- 85' Yobo plays a long ball to MBa, who is fouled by Samassa, back defending on the right.
- 84' The vuvuzela is still droning on but both sets of players are just waiting for the whistle. Mali well beaten.
- 82' Free-kick to Nigeria on the right after Musa is fouled by Coulibaly.
81' NIGERIA SUB: Yobo is given a run-out as Ambrose makes way.- 79' Mikel takes it short as Nigeria run it into the right wing. Eventually Mali clear. Both sides going through the motions.
- 77' Musa gets a kick in the head from Tamboura. Well, almost, as Tamboura just pulled out and Musa didn't make a meal of it.
- 76' Musa on the right, fine run and a great low cross that Emenike flies in to poke wide! Should be a corner as it hit Wague, but a goal kick is given.
- 75' Too little too late for Mali, although Nigeria need to regroup and ensure they don't switch off - which they did just there.
74' GOAL MALI! Diarra pulls one back, rolling it into the net, after Diabate picks him out from the left. The Bordeaux man had done really well to get in down the left, dragging the keeper wide with him.- 73' Samassa is a shade offside as a long ball comes in from the right.
- 72' Samassa races in down the left, he just has the keeper to beat but Enyeama closes the angle and bats it away one-handed! The loose ball drops for the Mali striker, but he completely misses the ball.
- 71' NIGERIA SUB: Uzoenyi makes his major tournament debut as he replaced Ideye.
- 69' Musa is penalised for a shove on Tamboura as he gave chase down the Nigeria right.
- 68' Diabate wriggles away from Echiejele but his low drive is easy for Enyeama at the near post.
- 67' Nigeria are having a ball now as they play it around the back, although as I say that Oneruo lumps one long.
- 66' MALI SUB: Keita makes way according to the numbers but I'm sure that's Traore. Sow is on.
- 65 Mikel sends Musa through now but he's offside. Just.
63' Musa is well up for this but, having coolly turned the ball in from a tight angle, the flag was already up on Ideye.- 62' Musa wants another one but he fires wide.
- 60' GOAL NIGERIA! 4-0 AND IT'S THE SUB MUSA! He tears them apart on the counter-attack after a fine pass from Ambrose, and the CSKA Moscow forward runs through from the right and slides a low finish past the keeper.
- 59' Musa is chasing down M'Diaye and, in his enthusiasm, fouls the Vitoria Guimaraes man.
- 58' Hacked away by Oboabona as Diabate muscled in. Nigeria clear from the throw and MBa - who lacks technique but is a willing runner - gives chase.
- 57' The corner is cleared but Nigeria retain possession at the back and bring it forward.
- 56' MALI SUB: Diabate, a rangy striker, replaces Sissoko.
- 55' A short routine ultimately sees Wague head well over. Nigeria break, and win a corner of their own.
- 54' Corner Mali as Diarra sees his cross blocked. They tale their time over it...
- 53' The ref speaks to Emenike about a late challenge as he chased down a loose ball... Just a warning.
- 52' NIGERIA SUB: Moses is replaced by Musa.
- 51' Nigeria aren't going to risk Moses, who has gone off now. Hopefully he'll be back for the final.
- 49' Emenike wins a free-kick off Sissoko, who is going to see yellow soon, far too many fouls.
- 48' Moses is down but it seems he has a problem with his boot and not his foot. Nigeria will hope so anyway. No, it's an injury...
- 47' Early chance for Mali as Keita fires a low finish wide! Should have done better from 12 yards!
46' The second half is underway.- 46' MALI SUB: Maiga makes way for Cheick Diarra.
- 45+3 Free-kick to Mali around 30 yards out but Keita fires it into the wall. Half-time and it already looks like game over - Nigeria lead 3-0. High-fives all around and a huddle for the Super Eagles. Proper team.
- 45+2 Ideye gives chase to a long ball but N'Diaye gets goal side and wins a free-kick.
- 45+1 Mali have a corner as we enter the first of two minutes stoppage time.
- 45' The wall broke - Traore at fault - and the ball hit Sissoko, completely changing direction and ending this match as a contest. Nigeria will play in the final unless something ridiculous happens.
- 44' GOAL NIGERIA! 3-0, game over as Emenike rifles in a free-kick that takes a huge deflection to nestle past the wrong-footed Samassa in the bottom right.
- 43' Sissoko fouls Ideye on the edge of the Mali box. Free-kick Nigeria.
- 43' Maiga cuts inside on to his left to clip a ball into the box but Nigeria push up and catch the Malian frontline offiside.
- 42' Ideye goes down in the middle of the park but the ref correctly adjudges him to be time wasting and waves him up.
- 41' Diawara with a high ball into the area but Enyeama claims.
- 40' Moses runs at the Mali defence, who would be forgiven for panicking but do not, forcing him wide.
- 39' Keita is fouled by Mikel as Nigeria pull rank and look to close out this half.
38' Echiejele goes down, and Maiga will be booked. I think for handball - Echiejele just landed awkwardly. Except it was Diawara who handled. Must have been backchat.- 37' Moses is fouled again. He's the dangerman and they're targeting him.
- 35' Couple of wild tackles from both sides but Echiejele took out Maiga first so Mali have it.
- 34' Mali felt there was a handball in the corner melee that resulted in that counter attack. Looking at the replay I can't see anything worthy of attention.
- 33' Mali have a corner on the left, Traore swings it in but Nigeria clear. They counter too, as Onazi races away - he has MBa square to go one-on-one but, spotting the keeper off his line, tries a lob that he underhits, Samassa able to scramble back to claim.
- 32' The other Samassa runs through on to a long ball, but he is offside.
- 31' Ideye with another effort, a low one that is easy for Samassa.
- 30' Not 100% if Ideye got the final touch - it could have come off a defender or the keeper, who definitely got a touch en route. Mali stunned.
- 29' 2-0 NIGERIA! Wonderful flicked finish by Ideye after Emenike drilled a fantastic cross from the right! And who sent Emenike in? Moses, with a superb pass.
- 28' Moses with a less impressive cross from the left, too close to Samassa.
- 26' That was a fantastic piece of skill by Moses. What a turn and nutmeg before clipping in a beauty of a cross.
- 25' GOAL NIGERIA! Echiejele stoops into a low header after finding himself totally unmarked in the box, a fantastic cross from Moses after he nutmegged Tamboura! 1-0!
- 24' Maiga on the Mali right but, with three team-mates lying in wait, he overhits the cross. Moses pumps it long but Emenike is tackled by Sissoko.
- 23' Omeruo with an important clearance as Traore almost got on to a long ball.
- 22' Emenike almost wriggles through after a mazy run inside from the right, but N'Diaye pokes it out for a throw near the corner flag. It's taken short, and Mikel has a pop and it flies just wide! Fantastic right-foot drive from range!
- 21' While there have been a couple of chances, this match has started scrappily. Passing is at a premium.
- 20' Free-kick to Nigeria around 35 yards out after Sissoko brought down Emenike. Taken short to Echiejele, Moses supports him but Nigeria have to go back to their defence.
- 19' Echiejele does really well to keep it in play on the left wing but he runs into three defenders and Sissoko clears.
- 18' Good interception by Ambrose as Mali moved in down the left.
- 17' Foul by Onazi on Mahamane Traore. A shove in the back. Traore takes his time getting up.
- 16' Mali clear their lines from that corner but that was a great chance for the Super Eagles.
- 15' A high ball catches Mali's defence cold, Ideye is in and he scuffs a half-volley on goal, great save by the feet of Samassa! It drops behind a flying Emenike, Moses has a dig but blocked and wide! Mali survive a big scare!
- 14' MBa thinks he should have a corner after Tamboura tackled. Should have been!
- 13' Sissoko has a pop from range but it flies half a yard over with Enyeama watching it all the way.
- 12' Mahamane Traore puts it in and Khalilou Traore flies in with a header that flashes across goal and wide!
- 11' Mahamane Traore with a shot from range that hits Omeruo and flies out for a corner.
- 10' Maiga on the Mali right but he fails to put the cross in and Nigeria get it away.
- 9' The Nigeria possession breaks down when Ambrose overruns it. Mali clear.
- 8' Nigeria with a good spell of possession now, piqued by that Mali chance... Moses and Onazi getting on the ball...
- 7' Mahamane Traore swings the corner in and in flies Wague but he heads well over! Should have done better.
- 6' Tamboura with a great run down the left, as is his style, and he clips a fine cross from the byline but Oboabona gets there before Keita! Headed behind for a corner.
- 4' Diawara a bit high on Echiejele so Nigeria have a free-kick. Taken by the defender but cleared.
- 3' Fairly cagey start on this moderately scrappy pitch. Not much in the way of passing so far.
1' The first half is underway!
14:55 William Hill have Nigeria as favourites to progress at 4/7, with Mali at 5/4. Fair enough, reflects Nigeria's history and relative strength in depth. I can see a 2-1 win for the Super Eagles. What's your prediction? Let me know on Twitter @Reda_Eurosport. FOLLOW ON TWITTER!- 14:50 Nigeria stick with the same XI that beat Ivory Coast in the quarters, meaning there is again no place for Joseph Yobo, with Godfrey Oboabona continuing to impress at centre-back. Emmanuel Emeniki, Brown Ideye and the livewire Victor Moses lead the line.
- 14:45 Mamadou Samassa returns in goal for Mali after he was suspended for the quarters, while Mamadou N'Diaye steps in for veteran defender Adama Coulibaly. Samba Diakite was injured in the quarter finals, which Mali won against South Africa on penalties, so Mahamane Traore starts in midfield.
- 14:40 Referee: Backary Papa Gassama (Gambia)
- 14:35 TEAMS - Mali: 1-Mamadou Samassa; 2-Fousseiny Diawara, 3-Adama Tamboura, 21-Mahamadou N'Diaye, 13-Molla Wague; 6-Momo Sissoko, 17-Mahamane Traore, 8-Kalilou Traore, 12-Seydou Keita; 10-Modibo Maiga, 15-Mahamadou Samassa /// Nigeria: 1-Vincent Enyeama; 3-Elderson Echiejile, 22-Kenneth Omeruo, 14-Godfrey Oboabona, 5-Efe Ambrose; 19-Sunday Mba, 17-Ogenyi Onanzi, 10-John Obi Mikel, 11-Victor Moses; 8-Brown Ideye, 9-Emmanuel Emenike
- 14:30 Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the first semi-final of the African Cup of Nations, as Mali face a resurgent Nigeria at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
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Summary
- 90+3 Diarra with a fizzing effort that is deflected wide! A corner, but Nigeria counter and Musa is in but Tamboura slides in superbly. Corner.
- 90+2 Uzoenyi with a long ball aimed at Ideye but easy for Samassa. Now Mali break as Diabate rampages through the middle, he lays it off for DIARRA who fires over!
- 88' Diabate and Diarra combine again, with Diabate again forcing a good stop from the keepr Enyeama! Corner.
- 86' ALMOST A FIFTH FOR NIGERIA! Fantastic long-range effort from Emenike but inches wide! And he hits the deck in pain afterwards...
- 76' Musa on the right, fine run and a great low cross that Emenike flies in to poke wide! Should be a corner as it hit Wague, but a goal kick is given.
- 74' GOAL MALI! Diarra pulls one back, rolling it into the net, after Diabate picks him out from the left. The Bordeaux man had done really well to get in down the left, dragging the keeper wide with him.
- 72' Samassa races in down the left, he just has the keeper to beat but Enyeama closes the angle and bats it away one-handed! The loose ball drops for the Mali striker, but he completely misses the ball.
- 63' Musa is well up for this but, having coolly turned the ball in from a tight angle, the flag was already up on Ideye.
- 60' GOAL NIGERIA! 4-0 AND IT'S THE SUB MUSA! He tears them apart on the counter-attack after a fine pass from Ambrose, and the CSKA Moscow forward runs through from the right and slides a low finish past the keeper.
- 47' Early chance for Mali as Keita fires a low finish wide! Should have done better from 12 yards!
- 44' GOAL NIGERIA! 3-0, game over as Emenike rifles in a free-kick that takes a huge deflection to nestle past the wrong-footed Samassa in the bottom right.
- 33' Mali have a corner on the left, Traore swings it in but Nigeria clear. They counter too, as Onazi races away - he has MBa square to go one-on-one but, spotting the keeper off his line, tries a lob that he underhits, Samassa able to scramble back to claim.
- 29' 2-0 NIGERIA! Wonderful flicked finish by Ideye after Emenike drilled a fantastic cross from the right! And who sent Emenike in? Moses, with a superb pass.
- 25' GOAL NIGERIA! Echiejele stoops into a low header after finding himself totally unmarked in the box, a fantastic cross from Moses after he nutmegged Tamboura! 1-0!
- 22' Emenike almost wriggles through after a mazy run inside from the right, but N'Diaye pokes it out for a throw near the corner flag. It's taken short, and Mikel has a pop and it flies just wide! Fantastic right-foot drive from range!
- 15' A high ball catches Mali's defence cold, Ideye is in and he scuffs a half-volley on goal, great save by the feet of Samassa! It drops behind a flying Emenike, Moses has a dig but blocked and wide! Mali survive a big scare!
- 12' Mahamane Traore puts it in and Khalilou Traore flies in with a header that flashes across goal and wide!
- 7' Mahamane Traore swings the corner in and in flies Wague but he heads well over! Should have done better.
- 14:35 TEAMS - Mali: 1-Mamadou Samassa; 2-Fousseiny Diawara, 3-Adama Tamboura, 21-Mahamadou N'Diaye, 13-Molla Wague; 6-Momo Sissoko, 17-Mahamane Traore, 8-Kalilou Traore, 12-Seydou Keita; 10-Modibo Maiga, 15-Mahamadou Samassa /// Nigeria: 1-Vincent Enyeama; 3-Elderson Echiejile, 22-Kenneth Omeruo, 14-Godfrey Oboabona, 5-Efe Ambrose; 19-Sunday Mba, 17-Ogenyi Onanzi, 10-John Obi Mikel, 11-Victor Moses; 8-Brown Ideye, 9-Emmanuel Emenike
Team Line-up & Ratings
MaliManager: Patrice Carteron
NigeriaManager: Stephen Keshi
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Line-up
Live Team Line-Up
Starting line-up
- M. Samassa
- A. Tamboura
- M. Ndiaye
- M. Wague
- F. Diawara
- K. Traoré
- S. Keita
- M. Sissoko
- M. Maïga
- M. Traoré
- M. Samassa
Subs
Starting line-up
- V. Enyeama
- E. Ambrose
- G. Oboabona
- K. Omeruo
- Elderson
- S. Mba
- J. Mikel
- V. Moses
- O. Onazi
- I. Brown
- E. Emenike
Subs
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Rate Players
56′ Great Super Eagles.....you have done well, more effort. Jesus Love you all.
Super Match! :-D
Awww ghana m style is out the african cup, now nigeria can use burkinafaso to train on the pitch to win the cup. Nigeria on top!
Welldone Nigeia you played so cool.please put all your effort to win the CUP.You are the best.UP NIGERIAAAAAAAAAAA
I thank God for today's victory...I hope the players hold their heads in one place to win the final match..Congratulations to Keshi,Amokachi,etc
who wan try niaja, they dey mad?...commot there.. it remain Ghana...that their mouth ..we will do something drastic about it.
I do pray in JESUS name that we are going to beat the Ghananians this time around, so UP UP UP goes the Eagle, sure WE CAN DO IT.
where can I buy Nigeria jersey in Calgary?
Come on Nigeria, really proud of a young team, playing like a united team for once, great win
@51 don't say that, ignorant ! open your eyes ! there's no such thing, don't listen to the media
If we can unite on the football pitch, why can't we in other pitches? Pastor Elias Osaghae, Toronto
Ghana Black stars are already in trouble in the finals, that is if they can beat Bokina Faso
wow. these guys has really done well. kudos
This victory is a victory against the nigeria's enemy of unity. Up up nigeria!
Wll done super super eagles,we now have a chance to win the cup on sunday after a long wait.PLS DONT LET THE COUNTRY DOWN.Tks for a well done job.
That shows there is still hope for nigeria though many failures in all aspects of the nation. I pray that every dying hope will come back alive for nigerians in jesus name.
Well done Nija. At last go and win it now
There are eagles but there is a Super Eagle. And the Super Eagle will soar more to take the AFCON Cup to Nigeria, come Sunday. Congrats Super Eagle! Congrats Nigeria.
CONGRATULATIONS NIGERIA
Nigeria should watch it regardless of who win the other semifinal game.
