Nigeria are the first team to secure their place in the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
FULL TIME: Mali 1-4 Nigeria
90 + 3’ – Fanta Mady Diarra again cutting in from the right but his shot is deflected wide.
90+3: CHANCE! Diabate brilliantly runs at the Nigeria penalty area, crossing to Diarra, but the Mali striker fires the ball just high. The duo have worked well together since coming on.
90 + 1’ – Three minutes have been added on.
89’ – Cheick Diabate using his strength to protect the ball at the other end, but his shot is saved by Enyeama.
87: CHANCE! Emenike goes for a spectacular effort from 25 yards, but he’s challenged as he connects with the ball, and it goes wide. He looks to be in quite some pain following the challenge.
86’ – Diawara is booked for a foul on Mba.
86’ – Yellow card: Fousseni Diawara (Mali) is cautioned.
86‘: Nigeria are looking for a strong finish, pressing back up towards the Mali goal inside the final five minute in Durban.
85‘: BOOKING! Fousseiny Diawara goes in the book for a high challenge on Emenike.
84‘: While Nigeria have been the stronger of the two sides for much of this match, they have only created two more chances than Mali, having 15 attempts at goal compared to 13 by their opponents.
82′: SUBSTITUTION” Joseph Yobo is brought on in place of Efe Ambrose
81′: Nigeria look fairly content to allow Mali the majority of the possession at the moment, the majority of the Nigerian team are in defensive positions.
79‘: CHANCE! Musa crosses to Emenike, but he’s got two Malian defenders for company, and they force a scuffed shot from the Nigerian striker.
77′: Chiekh Diarra scores a consolation goal for Mali, blasting the ball in from the centre of the penalty area. It’s a good finish by the Rennes striker.
76′: GOAL! Mali 1-4 Nigeria (Diarra)
74‘: CHANCE! Mahamadou Samassa has the best chance of the half for Mali, but Enyeama excellently outstretches his hand to tip the ball away. It’s just not happening for Mali this afternoon.
72′: SUBSTITUTION! Ejike Uzoenyi comes on in place of Brown Ideye for Nigeria. It’s been a busy day for Ideye, surely the change is made with one eye on the final.
71’ – Nigeria knocking the ball aorund now but Sow is blown up for a foul on Mikel.
69: BOOKING! Sow’s first contribution is to elbow Emenike in the side of the head, resulting in a yellow card for the Mali player.
68’ – Yellow card: Samba Sow (Mali) is cautioned.
66′: Nigeria seem to have taken up a more defensive formation in the last couple of minutes, it looks like they’ll be happy just to sit back and coast to the end of the game.
66‘: SUBSTITUTION! Samba Sow comes on in place of Mahamane Traore for Mali.
64′: Mali are still looking to get on the score sheet, Samassa looking to get a cross in to the box, but Enyeama comes for it, before launching the ball back to Nigeria in midfield.
64’ – Sunday Mba with a shot from just inside the box, but he slices it wide.
63’ – Musa fires the ball into the back of the net, but the flag is up for offside.
60’ – John Obi Mikel (Nigeria) assists with a goal.
60’ – Mikel with a great pass to set Musa on his way and he places his shot through the goalkeeper’s legs.
60′: GOAL! Mali 0-4 Nigeria (Musa)
59′: Diabate looks to get on the ball early, but Nigeria put the ball out for a corner, which is easily cleared. Mali win back the ball on the edge of their penalty area. Nigeria are just starting to find their way in to this half after a bright start by their opponents.
57’ – Keita tries to release Diabate but the ball is cleared for a corner.
56’ – Substitute Ahmed Musa tries a shot from the right, but it’s wide of goal.
56’ – Mali Substitution: Cheick Diabate replaces Momo Sissoko
55’ – Sissoko clips the ball towards the far post, but Wague sends his header over the crossbar.
55‘: CHANCE! Adama Tamboura heads the ball just over for Mali.
The substitution looks like it’s just a precautionary move, he seemed to give his ankle a bit of a twist early on in the second half, but had managed to continue after that.
53’ – Nigeria Substitution: Ahmed Musa replaces Victor Moses
52’ – Mali seeing more of the ball in the second half but still unable to get behind the Nigerian defence.
51’ – Nigeria win a freekick on the right as Emenike is brought down by Sissoko.
51‘: Diarra takes the ball down the sideline towards the Nigeria goal, but he is well marked and knocks the ball out for a goal kick. This has been just the start Mali needed, they’re looking much stronger on the ball than at the end of the first 45.
49′: There’s a slight delay as Moses takes a tumble. It looked like he just lost his footing. It’s noticeably wetter than before half time, and he’s also wearing boots that say “Mikel” on them. Maybe that’s the problem.
47’ – First chance of the second half goes to Mali but Keita shoots wide after receiving a cross from Diawara.
47‘: CHANCE! Seydou Keita picks up the ball just inside the Nigeria penalty area, but it falls to his weaker foot, and is edged wide.
46’ – The second half is underway.
46’ – Mali Substitution: Cheick Fantamady Diarra replaces Modibo Maiga
45min: Mali get the second half underway.
Brown Ideye will be happy to have found the back of the net. His 25th-minute header was his first international goal.
– It will take a lot for the Eagles to come back from this as pushing men forward could open more spaces, but they have to go for it in the second half.
– Nigeria have totally dominated the first half, solid in defence and breaking the Mali defence down regularly with their quick attacks.
45 + 3’ – The referee brings the first half to an end.
45 + 2’ – Mali now with a chance to pull one goal back as they win a freekick just outside the box.
45: There are two minutes of stoppage time being played, and it doesn’t look like the half-time whistle can come quick enough for Mali, they look crushed by the scoreline.
44’ – John Obi Mikel (Nigeria) assists with a goal.
44’ – Mikel rolls the ball towards Emenike and his shot is deflected into the back of the net off Sissoko.
44’ – GOAL: Emmanuel Emenike (Nigeria) scores!
43’ – Nigeria win a freekick in a dangerous area as Ideye is stopped by a late tackle from Sissoko.
43′: Maiga tries to pick out Mahamadou Samassa on the edge of the Nigeria penalty area, but Samassa is just a little too eager, and finds himself offside, allowing Nigeria to press back towards the Mali goal.
42’ – Diawara delivers a cross from the right towards the far post, but Enyeama comes off his line to collect.
41’ – Ideye and Moses try to combine on the edge of the box but the Mali defenders read the move and clear.
40’ – Mali just holding on to the ball in their own half and Nigeria in no hurry to chase since they have the two-goal lead.
37’ – Diawara penalised for tackling Moses from behind near the centre-line, but he only get a lecture from the referee.
37 – Echiejile is brought down by Diawara, who also catches the ball with his arm to concede a free kick.
37min: Mali are desperately seeking a goal, but every time look to break in to the Nigeria area they lose the ball, allowing their opponents to break while they’re out of position. It’s a master class in counter-attacking football from Nigeria at the minute.
35min: Mali force a corner, but it’s an easy clearance again for Nigeria. Ambrose chips the ball away from the Nigeria penalty area, picking out Onanzi, who tries to lob the ball beyond Samassa, who is off his line, but he just gets back far enough to make the save.
33min: CHANCE! Mali look a mess at the back now. Ideye has the ball again, and with no teammates ahead of him, he goes for a shot from long range, forcing a save from Samassa. This is fantastic stuff from Nigeria at the minute. They were hotly tipped ahead of the tournament, and they’re living up to their billing here.
31’ – Ideye with another shot from outside the box, but this time Samassa makes the save. It’s all Nigeria at the moment.
31min: Nigeria break brilliantly, Moses picking out Emenike, who finds Brown Ideye, who just manages to control the ball before being tackled to beat the Mali keeper.
30min: GOAL! Mali 0-2 Nigeria (Ideye)
27min: BOOKING! Efe Ambrose picks up the first yellow card of the game for a clumsy challenge down the wing, giving Mali a free kick in a dangerous area, but the Nigeria defence clears the threat.
25’ – Victor Moses (Nigeria) assists with a goal.
25’ – Victor Moses delivers a low cross from the right and Echiejile finishes with a diving header at the far post.
25: GOAL! Mali 0-1 Nigeria (Echiejile)
24: PENALTY APPEAL! Mikel bundles Traore down in the box, and Mali appeal for a spot kick, but it did look like the Chelsea man was playing the ball. Nigeria make hard work of clearing the ball through, allowing their opponents several attempts to get a shot away before getting the ball away from their area.
23’ – Mikel with a volleyed shot from outside the box and it’s just wide of the upright!
22min: CHANCE! Mikel hits the ball brilliantly on the half-volley, but his effort creeps inches wide. Samassa looked like he had the post covered through.
21′: Mali have won the ball back and are looking to head towards Nigeria’s goal, but Nigeria seem to have more urgency about them, and retake possession before breaking in to the Mali penalty area, N’diaye just managing to prevent an Emenike strike.
21’ – Samassa surges through the middle but his run is stopped on the edge of the area as he tries to go through three defenders.
After a flurry of chances, it’s calmed down a little. Both teams are looking to hold the ball in midfield at the minute, with Nigeria having the more success.
18’ – Tight battle in the midfield so far as Mali win a freekick near the centre-line.
15min: CHANCE! Ideye has the first shot on target for Nigeria, but Samassa just keeps it out with an outstretched foot. Emenike has a chance to fire the rebound in, but he hesitates, and Mali put the ball out for a corner, which is easily cleared.
CHANCE! Momo Sissoko takes a strike from outside the penalty area. The ball is well wide, but it was a well-struck effort. Mali have had the better of the chances so far.
13’ – Mali asking the questions now as Mohamed Sissoko sends his long range effort just over the crossbar.
12’ – Kalilou Traore delivers the corner and Wague glances his header just wide.
11’ – Mahamane Traore fires from outside the box, but his shot is deflected wide for a corner.
10’ – Promising run from Maiga on the right but he leaves the ball for Diawara, who loses it over the goal-line.
10’ – Nigeria not allowing Mali time on the ball in the centre of the park.
8’ – Keita delivers the ball into the box but Wague Molla heads over the bar.
7’ – Good run from Tamboura on the left but his cross is cleared by Oboabona for a corner.
6’ – Nigeria dominating possession so far, Mali unable to string passes together.
6′: Onanzi looks to get a shot away for Nigeria, but his effort is well off target. Nigeria have easily been the better team in the first five minutes of this semi-final.
4’ – Some good possession for Nigeria but Echiejile’s cross sails through the box untouched.
3′: Nigeria and Chelsea forward Victor Moses fires in a shot from 25 yards – it goes about 10 yards wide.
2min: It’s been a quiet opening spell. Nigeria look comfortable on the ball in the opening couple of minutes, passing the ball around the midfield, with Mali not looking to challenge early on.
0 min: Nigeria get the first half underway.
The first AFCON semi-final between Nigeria and Mali is about to kick-off.
- Mali v Nigeria (1500 GMT)Mali coach Patrice Carteron:“I think it was more difficult a few months ago and when the country was invaded. Now the players just want to give a present back to the country.“The atmosphere in Mali is unbelievable – people are much happier because we are getting close to the end of the war and because the national football team is in the semi-finals. It is a fantastic story.”
- 1444:Mali v Nigeria (1500 GMT)Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi, who was in charge of Mali from 2008 to 2010:“Mali is a footballing nation with great talent, I saw it in my two years there. I have a lot of respect for them and a lot of admiration for the Mali team and the players.“It will be an even tougher game than against the Ivory Coast. We will use whatever God gave us to play football and we will try and put it all together against Mali.”Credit: Sportsmole/BBC/mtnfootball
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