Nigeria captain: ‘There are no favourites’

Neither Mali or Nigeria will be counting their chickens after recent disappointments in making the AFCON final.

South Africa v Mali - 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Quarter-Final
With French troops fighting Islamist extremist in country's north, Mali have brought smiles to their football fans [GETTY]

Too many close calls in the last decade have left Nigeria and Mali with subdued confidence of making the African Cup final from their clash on Wednesday.

Mali have advanced to the semifinals for the second straight time, and fourth overall since 2002, but they haven’t reached the final since 1972. 

Nigeria made it to the semis in six of the last eight tournaments but haven’t reached the final since 2000.

A two-time champion, Nigeria arrive slightly favoured to progress after getting past Ivory Coast’s star-filled squad. The Super Eagles are led by Chelsea duo Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel and also count on Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike.

“We won a big game, we have the confidence, we have the belief. So we are going to come out very strong, give everything we have and hopefully win the game”

Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo

Mali are led by former Barcelona playmaker Seydou Keita.

“We know the Malians, they are going to be a very tough team to play against. And they know us as well,” Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo said.

“I think there are no favourites. We are very highly motivated and we know they are as well. This is the bridge that we have between here and the final so we are going to do everything that we can to win.”

Both teams are coming off big victories in the quarterfinals. Nigeria shocked Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast 2-1 in Rustenburg, and Mali overcame home-crowd favourite South Africa in a penalty shootout 3-1.

“We won a big game, we have the confidence, we have the belief. So we are going to come out very strong, give everything we have and hopefully win the game,” Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo said.

“There is no big difference on how we play, we are both very physical and tactically strong so it’s going to be an interesting game.”

Doing country proud

Nigeria lost to Ghana 1-0 in their previous semifinal in 2010. They lost to Cameroon on penalties when they last reached the final in 2000.

Mali, playing in the tournament for the seventh straight time, reached last year’s semifinal but lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast, eventually finishing third in what was their best appearance since the loss to Congo in the 1972 final.

Mali is hoping to provide more joy to their fans while French troops continue to fight with Islamist extremist in the country’s north.

We know that football can unite people and heal many things. We believe that we can do the country proud and give our people the reason to rejoice and be happy

Mali striker Mahamadou Samassa

“Of course it is not nice to see what is happening,” Mali striker Mahamadou Samassa said. 

“But I don’t want to talk about it. We are hoping that we can make the people back home very happy. We know that football can unite people and heal many things. We believe that we can do the country proud and give our people the reason to rejoice and be happy.”

Mali coach Patrice Carteron will be able to count on goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa after he missed the quarterfinal because of a suspension for yellow cards. He is expected to return to the lineup even though substitute Soumaila Diakite came up big with two saves in the shootout against South Africa.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi, the team captain when they won their last African title in 1994, can welcome back midfielder Fegor Ogude, who also missed the last match because of accumulated yellow card.

Keshi coached Mali from 2008-10 and knows it well. 

“Mali is a football nation, they have great talent,” he said.

“I have a lot of admiration for Mali’s team, for the players.” 

So, too, apparently, does Drogba, who visited the Nigeria dressing room after the quarterfinal.

“You guys should go and win the cup because you have shown the character of a champion,” Drogba said, according to Nigeria’s federation. 

Following the match in Durban will be the second semi between Ghana and Burkina Faso in Nelspruit.

Source: AFP