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30.01.2008 Sports News

C.I., Nigeria Qualify

By Daily Guide
C.I., Nigeria Qualify
30.01.2008 LISTEN

The Elephants of La Cote d'Ivoire yesterday confirmed bookmakers' assertion that they are favourites for the 26th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations when they beat Mali 3-0 in their final Group B game at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

By this victory, the Elephants have qualified for the quarterfinal stage with 9 points, scoring 8 goals and conceding only one.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria also qualified from Group B after beating the Squirrels of Benin 2-0 at the Essipon Stadium near Sekondi.

Cote d'Ivoire would thus clash with Guinea who were second in Group A, while hosts Ghana would revive their age-long rivalry with Nigeria at the Ohene Djan Stadium on Sunday.

Didier Drogba opened the scoring for the Elephants with a smart finish on 10 minutes when he shot across goal from a Yaya Toure pass.

The Elephants made it 2-0 from a corner when Marc Zoro nodded in.

Twice Drogba nearly made it 3-0 when from a corner on the opposite flank, his header was cleared off the line. He then drew a good save from Sidibe after a flowing move that started on the edge of the Ivorians' own penalty area.

Set-pieces continued to offer the best openings for both teams and Mali's Dramane Traore looked like he might provide a lifeline when he headed against the bar from a lofted Seydou Keita cross with Ivorian keeper Boubacar Barry nowhere to be seen.

With the game petering out, substitute Sanogo tucked in the rebound from a long range shot to seal it for Ivory Coast and leave Mali ruing a missed opportunity with qualification in their hands at the start of the match.

In the Nigeria/Benin match, John Mikel Obi headed his side's first goal of the evening early in the second half from Osaze Odemwingie's pass.

Mikel then played in Yakubu Ayigbeni who calmly slotted the Super Eagles' second on 86 minutes to seal the win.By M. M. Kassim with files from BBC

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