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Mali hold Nigeria, now favorites to make quarters

Mali's Frederic Kanoute, center, vies for the ball with Nigeria's Danny Shittu, left, and Seyi Olofinjana during their Africa Cup of Nations match in Sekondi, Ghana, on Friday. PHOTO: AP

Mali edged closer to the last eight of the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday when they held Nigeria to a goalless draw in a crucial Group B match.

Mali now have four points from two matches, while Nigeria have just one point.

Nigeria made several changes to the team which started their opening defeat to the Ivory Coast.

Osaze Odemwingie replaced injured Nwankwo Kanu, Obinna Nsofor came in for John Utaka while Obinna Nwaneri was preferred to Onyekachi Apam at right back.

The Eagles started out by delivering long balls behind the Malian defense in search of twin strikers Obafemi Martins and Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who used his size and power to good effect.

The first shot fired in anger was in the 16th minute when Martins rifled home from the top of the box but goalkeeper Mahamadou Sidibe went down well to make a comfortable save. Soon after Yakubu, set up by Odemwingie, also fired a grounder, but again Sidibe saved easily.

Mali paraded a top-class midfield that included Mahamadou Diarra, Seydou Keita and Mohammed Sisoko, but Chelsea ace Mikel along with Wolves midfielder Seyi Olofinjana held their own in the engine room.

However, Olofinjana will miss Nigeria's next group game against Benin after he was booked for the second time in the competition in the 37th minute for a late tackle on Seydou Keita.

Mali skipper Mahamadou Dirra will also miss his team's next game after a rough tackle on Ikechukwu Uche in the dying minutes.

Nigeria started brightly again after the break, but it was Mali who threatened to open the scoring in the 47th minute when Seydou Keita's low shot was pushed away by Austin Ejide for a corner kick.

But it was the Super Eagles who came closest to a goal in the 59th minute after Yakubu bundled into goalkeeper Sidibe.

On 70 minutes Sidibe was alert to save a long distance Shittu free kick after it took a slight deflection.

Mali's effective use of the offside trap kept the Nigerians at bay. Yakubu who had an effort in the 79th minute ruled out for offside.

Keita's effort from 20m then grazed the crossbar in the 81st minute with Ejide well beaten.
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