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Published 31 Jan, 2008 12:00am

Nigeria scrape through as Mali bow out

TAMALE, Jan 30: Nigeria scraped into the African Nations Cup quarter-finals on goal difference after beating Benin 2-0 on Tuesday to set up an appetising clash with hosts and arch-rivals Ghana.

The Super Eagles pipped Mali, thumped 3-0 by Ivory Coast in the other Group B game, after both finished level on four points. Captain Didier Drogba was on target as the Ivorians, already qualified, completed a clean sweep in the group.

Off the field, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) handed a dossier on attempted match-fixing to Ghanaian police after Benin and Namibia last week said they were approached by an unidentified man and offered money to throw games.

CAF general secretary Mustapha Fahmy said the dossier included statements from those approached and contact details given by a man purporting to represent betting interests in Singapore.

“We have asked them to do a thorough investigation and have given them all the details we were able to collect,” Fahmy told Reuters.

In Sekondi, Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel scored one goal and set up another as Nigeria won at last.

Obi Mikel headed in a Peter Odemwingie cross after Benin keeper Yoann Djidonou had failed to clear a Taye Taiwo free kick in the 52nd minute, their first goal of the tournament.

He then set up striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni for the second with four minutes left.

At the end of the match, members of the Nigerian technical staff lifted sheepish-looking coach Berti Vogts into the air in celebration.

Mali needed a draw in Accra but were quickly in trouble as Drogba marked his 50th cap with a 32nd international goal.

Marc Zoro, playing his first competitive match in more than six months, rose unmarked to head home from a corner in the 54th minute and Boubacar Sanogo scored his first international goal five minutes from the end.

Ivory Coast face Guinea in their quarter-final while Nigeria travel to Accra to face the hosts, who have a 100 percent record in the tournament.

Cameroon coach Otto Pfister is fuming at African Nations cup organisers after his side's luggage failed to arrive with the team for Wednesday's crunch game with Sudan.

“It's a total catastrophe,” was how the veteran German-born manager labelled Confederation of African Football's organisation.

“We left Kumasi on Tuesday morning and they told us a helicopter would follow with our bags.

“We arrive here and we don't have any shirts or balls. Our hotel rooms weren't ready. We had to wait three hours in the foyer and our meal was served very late. I don't know who is responsible but it's a total catastrophe in terms of organisation.”—Reuters

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