DURBAN — Nigeria yesterday eased through to their first Africa Cup of Nations football final in 13 years with a comfortable victory over Mali.
BBC Sport
Defender Elderson Echiejile opened the scoring, heading home Victor Moses’ cross, before Brown Ideye bundled past Mali keeper Mamadou Samassa.
The Super Eagles made it three with Emmanuel Emenike’s shot deflecting in off Mali midfielder Momo Sissoko.
Substitute Ahmed Musa stroked home Nigeria’s fourth, before Cheick Diarra grabbed a consolation for the Eagles.
Musa showed great skill to get in again, but a tight offside call denied him what would have been a spectacular goal.
Mahamadou Samassa had a chance for Mali in the 72nd minute, but after racing down the left, he was unable to beat the goalkeeper.
The other semi-final match between Ghana and fellow West Africans Burkina Faso was played late last night at Mombela Stadium in Nelspruit. The winner of that match will meet Nigeria on Sunday while the loser is scheduled to meet Mali in a third and fourth play-off match on Saturday.
