Cote d’Ivoire maul Mali 3-0 to help Nigeria qualify
Ghana - MALIANS threw away their chance to reach the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations after they were comprehensively beaten by Group B winners Cote d’Ivoire.
The defeat meant Nigeria edged into the last eight despite being third in the group before Tuesday’s crucial games.
Didier Drogba opened the scoring with a smart finish on 10 minutes when he shot across goal from a Yaya Toure’s pass.
The Elephants made it 2-0 from a corner when Marc Zoro nodded in and sealed it with a Boubacar Sanogo rebound.
The Ivoiriens came into the match already having qualified with Mali needing only a draw to guarantee their progression to the last eight at the expense of Nigeria. But with the prospect of the second team in group B facing hosts Ghana next Sunday, both the Elephants and the Eagles would have preferred to top the group.
After a cagey start, the game was enlightened by a goal of real quality from Drogba, who was making his 50th appearance for the Ivoiriens.
Yaya Toure collected the ball about 35 yards from goal as Drogba pulled away from his defender on the left side of the penalty area. Yaya Toure then slipped the Chelsea striker a perfect ball before he fired his right-footed shot across goal.
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