Nigeria, Mali advance to quarterfinals

Julius Aghahowa scored his second game-winning goal of the competition. Darrin Braybrook/Allsport

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) -- Nigeria's Super Eagles reached the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations on Monday by beating Liberia 1-0 while host nation Mali came close to thrashing Algeria as it advanced with a 2-0 win.

Liberia's exit from the tournament at Mopti, east of Bamako, was likely the last international game to feature former FIFA player of the year George Weah. The former AC Milan star has said he will probably retire from international soccer after Mali 2002.

Teen-ager Julius Aghahowa sealed the Nigerian victory with a second-half header. The Ukrainian-based striker was unmarked at the far post when he flicked in Finidi George's corner shot. It was the second game-winning goal the 19-year-old has scored in the competition.

George could have given the Super Eagles an earlier lead but his first-half penalty was saved by Liberian goalkeeper Louis Crayton.

Nigeria won Group A with seven points while Mali finished second with five. Liberia ended up in third with two points and Algeria is last with just one point.

The Desert Warriors were overwhelmed by Mali's blistering attack from the start of their match in the capital's March 26 stadium.

Cheered on by thousands of home fans, Mamadou Bagayoko scored in the 18th minute by whipping the ball into the far corner of the net with his right foot.

Six minutes later he fed a deep pass to Bassala Toure, who only had goalkeeper Lounes Gaouaoui to beat to score the second goal.

Algeria narrowly avoided a meltdown as shots rained down from Mali's attack. Several saves by Gaouaoui and poor finishing kept the scoreline at 2-0.

Algerian skipper Abdelhafid Tasfaout, who plays for French first-division Guingamp, was taken off the field in an ambulance after colliding with a Malian player.

An Algerian team official said the player swallowed his tongue, which wasn't severed, and suffered a blocked jaw and cuts to his nose and mouth. The official said the player's throat was cleared and he regained consciousness before being taken to a nearby hospital.

Nigeria will face the Group B runner-up in Kayes in western Mali on Feb. 3 while Mali takes on the Group B winner in Bamako the same day.

All four Group B teams have a chance of advancing. The two second-round places will be settled Wednesday when South Africa plays Morocco and Burkina Faso meets Ghana.

Cameroon is guaranteed the top spot in Group C thanks to its two victories. The runner-up will be decided on Tuesday when Cameroon plays Togo and Congo (Zaire) faces Ivory Coast.

Senegal, which plays in Group D, is the only other side to have advanced to the quarterfinals so far.

 

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