Nigeria hammered Mali 4-1 to reach the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Final
Posted: 6 February 2013 Time: 18:54
Nigeria hammered Mali 4-1 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday afternoon to reach the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Final on Sunday at Soccer City.
The Nigeria goals were scored by Elderson Echiejile, Brown Ideye, Emmanuel Emenike and Ahmed Musa. The Mali goal was scored by Cheick Fantamady Diarra.
Nigeria settled the quicker of the two teams, though it was Mali who threatened an early goal when Molla Wague’s header from a corner kick flashed just wide of the target in the 12th minute, while Momo Sissoko shot just over the top from long-range less than 60 seconds later.

John Mikel Obi opened up Mali’s defence in the 15th minute with a long ball that allowed Emmanuel Emenike to sprint in behind and get a low shot on target, but goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa made a good save with his feet. Seven minutes later Mikel sent a powerful volley just wide.
Nigeria scored in the 25th minute thanks to some great play down the right flank by Victor Moses. The Chelsea attacker twisted and turned his way past Adama Tamboura before providing a low cross that Elderson Echiejile turned into the net with a diving header.

The Super Eagles scored again five minutes later with a penetrating run down the right flank by Emenike, who provided a low cross that was turned into the net by Brown Ideye from close-range 2-0.
In the 44th minute Nigeria scored again with a bit of luck when a free-kick was teed up for Emenike to strike – his shot ricocheted off the legs of Sissoko, completely wrong-footing the goalkeeper and finding its way into the back of the net.
In the 60th minute Ahmed Musa made it 4-0 when Mikel played a perfectly-timed pass for substitute Musa to spring Mali’s offside trap, before coolly slotting the ball through Samassa’s legs.
Mali pulled a goal back in the 75th minute when Cheick Diabate set-up fellow substitute Fantamady Diarra to at least put Mali on the score sheet at 4-1.
HOME: Mali
- 1 Mamadou Samassa
- 2 Fousseni Diawara
- 3 Adama Tamboura
- 21 Mahamadou Ndiaye
- 23 Molla Wague
- 6 Momo Sissoko
56 mins - Cheick Tidiane Diabate - 8 Kalilou Traore
- 12 Seydou Keita
- 17 Mahamane Traore
66 mins - Samba Sow - 15 Mahamadou Samassa
- 20 Modibo Maiga
46 mins - Cheick Fantamady Diarra
AWAY: Nigeria
- 1 Vincent Enyeama
- 3 Elderson Echiejile
- 5 Efe Ambrose
82 mins - Joseph Yobo - 14 Godfrey Oboabona
- 22 Kenneth Omeruo
- 10 John Obi Mikel
- 17 Ogenyi Onazi
- 19 Sunday Mba
- 8 Brown Ideye
71 mins - Ejike Uzoenyi - 9 Emmanuel Emenike
- 11 Victor Moses
53 mins - Ahmed Musa
Previous comments on this story...
I just hope Moses and Emenike will be fit for the final against, most probably, Ghana( I think it is going to be Ghan because Burkinal without Alain Traoro should not be difficult for Ghana)
Mali just allowed Nigeria an easy passage because they were scared we could withdraw our troops out in Timbuktu ridding the place of Islamic fundamentalists.
Also......South Africans just lodge a protest against Nigeria for fielding overaged players in all their matches since Afcon started.______________________________________are you such a cockhead? You are stupid jou boko haram
We did with an average age of 23 years and 17 out of our 23 man team attending their 1st Afcon.
Bafana can do it too and you jackass my friend need to also understand that Nigeria will help develop your talents if you ask.We are more than willing to allow Samson Siasia take ove Bafana Bafana and with Immediate effect too.
Sundowns won against chiefs and got walloped next round of mtn8
Wits won against chiefs and got walloped on next round of tko
Mali won against Bafana Bafana and got walloped on next round of afcon.
One love naija, best team for the day has won. Congrads.
One luv
From Maryland, USA
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What were some of you Zebras thinking when you cooked up that hoax that Mali was "eliminated" in order for Bafoony to go through by back door? Do you realise what a hammering our toddlers (excluding Bucs players) would've endured against the Super Eagles? It would've been DOUBLE FIGURES I'm afraid.
Zebras aka Fans of Gordon will forever remain in-humane! Nc nc nc...
GO AHEAD SUPER EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!