Nigeria qualified for the final of the
2013 Africa Cup of Nations after trouncing Mali 4-1 at Moses Mabhida Stadium on
Wednesday.
2013 Africa Cup of Nations after trouncing Mali 4-1 at Moses Mabhida Stadium on
Wednesday.
The Super Eagles will face Burkina
Faso, this Sunday at Soccer City stadium in Soweto.
Faso, this Sunday at Soccer City stadium in Soweto.
Burkina Faso defeated Ghana in the
second semi-final through penalties, after regulation and extra time play ended
in 1-1 drawn.
second semi-final through penalties, after regulation and extra time play ended
in 1-1 drawn.
Nigeria took the lead on 25 minutes
through a diving header inside the box by defender Elderson Echiejile off a low
cross by Victor Moses from the right.
through a diving header inside the box by defender Elderson Echiejile off a low
cross by Victor Moses from the right.
The Super Eagles doubled their
advantage on the half hour when Brown Ideye finished off another low cross from
the right, this time by Emmanuel Emenike.
advantage on the half hour when Brown Ideye finished off another low cross from
the right, this time by Emmanuel Emenike.
Emenike netted his fourth goal of the
tournament a minute before the break when his shot off an edge-of-box free kick
took a deflection beyond goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa.
tournament a minute before the break when his shot off an edge-of-box free kick
took a deflection beyond goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa.
Substitute Ahmed Musa slotted home the
fourth goal for Nigeria on 60 minutes when he burst clear. Mali pulled a goal
back in the 75th minute through substitute Fantamady Diarra, who slotted the
ball past goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama as the Nigerian defence suffered a lapse
in concentration.
fourth goal for Nigeria on 60 minutes when he burst clear. Mali pulled a goal
back in the 75th minute through substitute Fantamady Diarra, who slotted the
ball past goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama as the Nigerian defence suffered a lapse
in concentration.
Nigeria took the game to Mali from the
first whistle with Chelsea winger Moses shooting wide after just two minutes.
first whistle with Chelsea winger Moses shooting wide after just two minutes.
However, Mali settled and came close to
going in front after 12 minutes when Kalilou Traore’s header off a corner
narrowly missed the target. And moments later, Momo Sissoko’s shot flew just
above Vincent Enyeama’s goal.
going in front after 12 minutes when Kalilou Traore’s header off a corner
narrowly missed the target. And moments later, Momo Sissoko’s shot flew just
above Vincent Enyeama’s goal.
Nigeria carved a good chance on 15
minutes when Emenike fired at goal, but Samassa did well to keep it out before
the ball was cleared for a corner.
minutes when Emenike fired at goal, but Samassa did well to keep it out before
the ball was cleared for a corner.
Soon after Nigeria’s second goal by
Ideye, the Dynamo Kyiv striker was denied by the young Mali goalkeeper, before
Ogenyi Onazi’s chipped shot after a swift counter attack was held by
back-tracking Samassa. In the 47th minute, Seydou Keita’s shot from inside the
Nigeria goal area missed as Mali searched for a goal.
Ideye, the Dynamo Kyiv striker was denied by the young Mali goalkeeper, before
Ogenyi Onazi’s chipped shot after a swift counter attack was held by
back-tracking Samassa. In the 47th minute, Seydou Keita’s shot from inside the
Nigeria goal area missed as Mali searched for a goal.
Molla Wague’s header in the 55th minute
came close as Mali continued to pile pressure on the Super Eagles.
came close as Mali continued to pile pressure on the Super Eagles.
But Nigeria then created two good
chances. First, Ideye hesitated when clear on goal in the 56th minute and a
Musa effort that found the net seven minutes later was disallowed for offside.
chances. First, Ideye hesitated when clear on goal in the 56th minute and a
Musa effort that found the net seven minutes later was disallowed for offside.
