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A flurry of first half goals ensured that the Super Eagles stamped their dominance over the Eagles of Mali as Nigeria moved to the final of the Africa Nations Cup for the first time since 2000.
Elderson Echiejile scored the curtain raiser in the 25th minute and five minutes later, Brown Ideye doubled the lead before impressive Emmanuel Emenike made it three in the 44th minute. Substitute Ahmed Musa scored his first in the competition when he wrapped the game with a fourth goal in the 60th minute. Mali got a consolation goal in the 75th minute through Diara Mady.
The match started slowly as both teams tried to explore their opponents’ weaknesses. But Chelsea star Victor Moses expressed his impatience in the third minute when he fired a lame shot at Mali’s Samassa Mamadou rather than continue with the gradual build-up.
It sparked life into the game as Mali’s Mohammed Sissoko and Nigeria’s Mikel Obi began a midfield battle. Mali had a succession of half chances which they failed to convert and on the other side, Mamadou had to be at his best as he stopped Ideye’s well-placed effort in the 15th minute. Moses got the rebound but his effort only won a corner kick.