Nigeria trampled Mali in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals by the score of 4-1.
Nigeria got off to a perfect start in the first half with two goals just five minutes apart. Elderson scored in the 25th minute to make it 1-0 while Brown Ideye doubled the lead at the 30 minute mark. Mali looked like to would only be down two goals heading into the half, but Mohamed Sissoko added an own goal to add to the poor first half.
Ahmed Musaab extended the lead in the 60th minute to give Nigeria a 4-0 stronghold. Cheick Mady Diarra eventually tallied for Mali in the 75th minute but it was too little, too late.
Mali ended the tournament with two wins, a loss, and a draw. The team defeated Niger in the group stage but lost to Ghana and drew with Congo DR. In the quarter-finals, Mali defeated host nation South Africa in penalties; the hosts missed three penalties while Mali scored on all three of theirs.
They will play in third place-game on Saturday against the loser of the Burkina Faso-Ghana matchup. This is the fifth time in history that the nation competes for the bronze medal. Mali won third place in last year's tournament, but lost the match in 1994, 2002, 2004.
Meanwhile Nigeria will play in the Championship on Sunday for seventh time in this tournament's history. Nigeria was the champion in 1980 and 1994, but lost the title match in 1984, 1988, 1990, and 2000.
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