ACTUALITE |
08.02.2002
Senegal into first final
Semi-final: Senegal 2-1 Nigeria
Senegal are through to their first-ever African Nations Cup final after a dramatic semi-final in Bamako.
The Lions defender Ferdinand Coly said after the game: "The players are all incredibly happy. We knew this match would be difficult, but we have unity, and when things got difficult we pulled together".
Nigeria came from a goal down to equalise with two minutes left to play against a 10-man Senegalese side to force the match into extra-time.
Senegal then went ahead again and went on to win after the Super Eagles missed a penalty.
Benin referee Codjia Coffi expelled Pape Sarr after he was spotted using his elbow on Garba Lawal midway in the first-half.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Lions of Senegal snatched the opening goal with a near post header by Pape Diop from Khalilou Fadiga`s corner in the 53rd minute.
Passions boiled over at some stages in the game leading to two more expulsions during extra-time.
Tarnished
Julius Aghahowa was was given his marching orders in the first-half of extra-time for a late challenge, having levelled the match in the 88th minute with a well-taken goal.
At that point he looked as if he was going to repeat his heroics of two years ago, when he scored two goals, including a late equaliser, against Senegal in the 2000 Nations Cup.
In the last minute of extra-time, Ifeanyi Udeze was also shown the red card for an off the ball incident with Fadiga.
Senegal clinched the winner seven minutes into extra-time through defender Salif Diao following a counter-attack.
Diao dispossessed Lawal in midfield and squared to El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf who played the return for the defender to slice home at the far post.
It almost went into a penalty shoot-out, but Nigeria failed to score from the spot after Kanu was fouled by Diatta.
Wilson Oruma`s kick struck the bottom of the post rebounded out of the penalty area.
Senegal deserved their victory after two semi-final defeats - the last one was in 1990 to Algeria.
Nigeria will travel to Mopti for the third-place play-off match against the loser of the second semi-final.
Senegal: 1-Tony Sylva; 17-Ferdinand Coly, 2-Omar Daf, 6-Aliou Cisse, 13-Lamine Diatta, 3-Pape Sarr, 15-Alissane Diao, 19-Pape Bouba Diop, 10-Khalilou Fadiga, 7-Henri Camara, 11-El Hadj Ousseynou Diouf
Nigeria: 1-Ike Shorunmu; 2-Joseph Yobo, 5-Isaac Okoronkwo, 6-Taribo West, 14-Ifeanyi Udeze, 7-Finidi Geroge, 11-Garba Lawal, 10-Austin Okocha, 15-Sunday Oliseh, 17-Julius Aghahowa, 4-Nwankwu Kanu
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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