Accra — Nigeria's Super Eagles move to the Cup of Nations' quarterfinals after beating Benin 2-0 on Tuesday night, along with Côte d'Ivoire, who defeated Mali 3-0.
Had Mali pulled off a draw, Nigeria would have been eliminated, regardless of how they fared against Benin. Before the game, speculation abounded on whether Côte d'Ivoire – who had already qualified to move on – would clear the way for Mali by simply lying low. But the Ivoirians, making no secret of their intent to be a major contender to win this year's Cup, put paid to Mali's hopes.
Analysts had predicted Mali would take second place in Group B, sending Nigeria and Benin home. Instead, the Malians – for the first time ever – will not move to the next round in the Nations Cup, which comes as a big disappointment for them.
And they have only themselves to blame. They lacked motivation against Côte d'Ivoire, to a point where some actually wondered whether they were not mistaken as to who stood to lose the most.
The Ivoirians, on the other hand, played as if they had everything to lose. Their first goal came at the 9th minute, when team captain Didier Drogba won a standoff against the Malian goalie. The score remained unchanged at half time.
When the game resumed, the Ivoirians showed even more ambition than before, scoring twice, first with a header from Marc Zoro (in the 58th minute), then a goal scored by Boubacar Sanogo, who had replaced Drogba (85th minute).
Mali then lost all hope. The team's future is uncertain because many of their most talented players – Fréderic Kanouté, Momo Sissoko, Seydou Keïta and Mahamadou Diarra – are likely to retire. Also, what happens to coach Jean François Jodar of France is anybody's guess.
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Côte d'Ivoire's Elephants Deliver
Much like the tournament's hosts, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire is the only team that has won all its three games. And with a goal difference of +7, they have scored 8 goals in all.
The Ivoirians' main advantage is that their game remains as good when fewer than five of their main players are in action as when they are at full strength. Many observers view them as the potential challengers to defending champion Egypt.
Super Eagles Fly High at Last
Playing in Sekondi-Takoradi, Nigeria nailed Benin's Squirrels 2-0. The Squirrels head home without winning a single game, with a goal difference of -6. Benin scored only once (against Côte d'Ivoire), but had seven goals scored agains them.
Nigeria really has come a long way in this tournament.
After a disappointing opening game against Côte d'Ivoire (0-1), the Eagles' anxiety grew as their match against Mali ended in the tournament's first – and so far only – scoreless draw.
With only one point and a negative goal difference, Nigeria's only hope last night had been for Mali to lose. Their last-minute qualification brings relief to coach Berti Vogts of Germany, and to the players, who had come under intense criticism at home.
The days ahead will tell whether the team can win their reputation back. They are playing against Ghana in a crucial quarterfinal game, which is no small task.
