Group B

Mali

Mali leaves Ghana with just a solitary goal to its name and a one-dimensional game plan that was well and truly exposed.

After struggling past Benin with the only goal a Frederic Kanoute penalty, Mali drew 0-0 with Nigeria and lost 2-0 to Ivory Coast.

Seydou Keita hitting the bar in the dying moments against Nigeria proved to be the difference between qualification and elimination for the Malians as they proved no match for Ivory Coast.

Kanoute was removed from the field injured at half-time of the final game, after the first half had been spent hitting ambitions long and through-balls in his direction.

While Keita tried valiantly the tournament was a complete write-off in an attacking sense for Mali.

The writing was on the wall in Cup of Nations qualifying last year, a 6-0 drubbing of Sierra Leone and 2-0 win over Togo in the final two games turning an uninspiring campaign into a successful one at the last minute.

Mali should progress to the final group stage of qualifying as it faces Mali, Sudan and Chad in its first group.

Given eight runners-up progress to the next round, big wins over the two minnow teams should ensure progression.

Finishing top of the group will hinge entirely on who prevails in the two matches against Sudan, starting in Khartoum on June 13 and then the home tie in Bamako on June 20.

But winning one of the final five groups looks a task well beyond Mali after it failed to score goals against two of the teams certain to be waiting in the final group stage.

Benin

Benin drew twice with Mali in Cup of Nations qualifying and blew its best chance of points in the opening game third time around.

With its front pairing of Razak Omotoyossi and Oumar Tchomogo looking decent but not overly threatening, the Beninians represented themselves well for a small team.

But defensive lapses against big boys Ivory Coast and Nigeria produced some unflattering scorelines, despite both games having long periods of holding out the opposition.

World Cup qualification prospects:

Benin will do well to be one of the eight best runners up (from 12 groups) that progresses to the final group stage as it faces Angola, Uganda and Niger up first.

Beating Uganda and Niger will be a difficult prospect, never mind running up the score, while Angola’s current form at the Cup of Nations suggests it is now on a tier well above the Squirrels.

It looks a difficult group for Benin and should they find a way through, they will be sitting ducks in the final group stage anyway.

Nigeria is through to the quarter-final of the African Cup of Nations after a 2-0 win over Benin in Sekondi tonight.

But the Super Eagles needed a favour from Ivory Coast to progress and the Elephants obliged beating Mali 3-0 in Accra.

Goals from John Obi Mikel and Aiyegbeni Yakubu in the second half opened Nigeria’s account at the tournament after going scoreless in the first two games.

While just a draw would have seen Mali through to the next stage, Didier Drogba’s early strike for the Ivory Coast gave his side an advantage it would not relinquish.

Drogba’s goal celebration after a cool finish in the ninth minute left the crowd in no doubt that the two had not agreed to play out a draw.

Mali’s avenue to goal was Frederic Kanoute, but its midfield peppered the Ivorian backline with harmless long-balls without ever threatening to score.

Kanoute was substituted at half time, coach Jean Jodar saying after the match his striker was injured.

In the second half centre-back Marc Zoro headed in a corner from Abdul Keita on 54 minutes to seal the win for the Ivory Coast.

Then in the 68th minute the game was made safe for the Elephants when Boubacar Sanogo finished from close range following up a parried shot from Yaya Toure.

With Kolo Toure injured centre-back pairing Marc Zoro and Didier Zokora dominated for Ivory Coast, while full-backs Emmanuel Eboue and Siaka Tiene barely raised a jog.

Ivory Coast will start hot favourite to defeat Guinea in its next match, while Nigeria meets host Ghana in the quarter-final.

A claim from Benin coach Reinhard Fabisch has headlined the off-field drama at the African Cup of Nations. 

Drama between Sudan and a TV network and heavy criticism for Ghana's Asamoah Gyan have also been major talking points.

Gyan and Ghana coach Claude Le Roy faced the media yesterday to defend the team’s winning, but unconvincing start to the tournament.Gyan was widely booed when substituted against Namibia after a problematic night in which he failed to shoot accurately or make the right decisions when on the ball.

The striker who opened the scoring at the tournament with a penalty against Guinea admitted a lack of condition, but declared he would up his work rate to stay effective in the first team.  

Sudan’s players were involved in an altercation with an Egyptian television crew yesterday at the team’s hotel in Kumasi. The BBC is reporting a gun was drawn by a police officer when the law was called in to control the situation.

The confrontation is believed to have been caused by Sudan’s players refusing to grant interviews.

The Egyptian station TV1 has accused Sudan players and officials of being short-tempered and resorting to violence, while the Sudanese camp has claimed harsh treatment at the hands of the network.

Matters will be settled on the pitch this evening with Egypt hot favourite to win and depending on the result of Zambia and Cameroon, eliminate Sudan.

Benin coach Fabisch told the BBC he was approached by a man claiming to represent a Singapore company and was asked to help fix the result of his team’s opening game against Mali.

Fabisch was set a deadline of midday today to sign an affidavit confirming the accusations but neither he or CAF has made a statement on the matter.

Briefly in other news Guinea captain Pascal Feindouno has been issued a two match suspension for his sending off against Morocco.  

It was far from squirrel noise as Benin started night six of the African Cup of Nations with the loudest national anthem.

Almost like a trained choir, the strong Benin collection set themselves a standard that it couldn't quite match for the full 90 minutes of its 4-1 loss to the Ivory Coast.

Although its fans were split across three distinguishable groups, the Ivorians had a stronger and more consistent way of cheering on its team.

While one group of fans double-clicked like a heart beat, a thunder of drums came in from underneath.

With every attacking chance the heart-beat got faster, pounding excitedly every time the Elephants won a set piece.

While the Ivorian heartbeat continued deep into the second half, the squirrels went into hibernation.

They emerged upon the scoring of the game's only goal, but had been relatively quiet for the majority of the second half.

The Mali fans also had a similar approach to fan support as the Ivorians, but adopted a more driven beat.

Malian drums propelled its team forward, generating momentum rather than simply keeping a steady beat.

Nigeria on the other hand was far more instrumental.

Not just the air horns and one-tone trumpets coming from the Nigerian fans, but a full orchestra of harmonic noises urging on the Super Eagles.

Teo Pellizzeri, Takoradi-Sekodni Stadium

Ivory Coast moved a step closer to the knock-out stages of the African Cup of Nations in Sekondi tonight with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Benin.

But the win may have come at a cost to the Elephants who lost centre back Kolo Toure on the stroke of half time to a groin injury.

After a tight opening half hour it was Benin's bravery to continue attempting the offside trap which cost it the opening goal.

Didier Drogba was threaded through by Yaya Toure in the 41st minute and finished cooly to open the scoring.

The Elephants made the most of the momentum and doubled their advantage before the long break, Yaya Toure tapping in to score after Arouna Dindane beat two defenders on the left byline and put a ball across the goalmouth.

Despite Kolo Toure's absence in the second half there was no threat of a Benin comeback, with man-of-the-match Dindane continuing to torment the Squirrels backline.

In the 53rd minute a poor goal kick from Benin goalkeeper Rachad Chitou fell straight to Abdul Kader Keita who had a simple run into the penalty area  and finish for 3-0.

Drogba then set up Dindane for the goal of the night as he controlled an overhit corner at the far post and crossed back into the six-yard box for Dindane to head home.

Benin captain Oumar Tchomogo was denied a goal with 10 minutes remaining by a fantastic flying save from Boubacar Barry.

But Tchomogo did put his name on the scoresheet in the first minute of stoppage time as ge headed in a cross from Stephane Sessegnon to give the Squirrels a belated consolation.

Teo Pellizzeri, Tarakodi-Sekondi Stadium