African Nations Cup: Mali Top Ghana To Finish Third

At Port Elizabeth, South Africa:

Mamadou Samassa (21'), Seydou Keita (48'), and Sigamary Diarra (90'+4) each scored a goal on Saturday as Mali defeated Ghana 3-1 to claim third place in the African Nations Cup.

Burkina Faso will take on Nigeria in the final on Sunday in Johannesburg.

African Nations Cup: It's The Super Eagles (Nigeria) vs. The Stallions (Burkina Faso) For All The Marbles

The semifinal round of the African Nations Cup took place on Wednesday, with both games played in South Africa.

At Durban:

Uwa Elderson Echiejile (25'), Brown Ideye (30'), Emmanuel Eminike (44'), and Ahmed Musa (60') each scored a goal during the first hour of the match as Nigeria dominated Mali 4-1.

At Nelspruit:

After Aristide Bance's equalizer in the 60th minute tied up their match with Ghana at 1-1 (which was the score following regulation and 30 scoreless overtime minutes), Burkina Faso, thanks to successful spot kicks from Bakary Kone, Henri Traore, and the aforementioned Aristide Bance, won the penalty-kick shootout with Ghana 3-2, to advance to Sunday's final in Johannesburg against Nigeria.  It will be the Stallions' first-ever appearance in the African Nations Cup final.

Wednesday's losers, Mali and Ghana, will face each other in Saturday's third-place playoff at Port Elizabeth.

The winner of Sunday's Nigeria-Burkina Faso final will represent Africa in this year's FIFA Confederations Cup tournament to be played in Brazil.

African Nations Cup: Nigeria, Burkina Faso Advance To Semifinals

The quarterfinal round of the African Nations Cup concluded on Sunday with two games played in South Africa.

At Rustenburg:

Sunday Mba scored the winning goal in the 78th minute as Nigeria defeated Ivory Coast 2-1.

At Nelspruit:

Jonathan Pitroipa scored the only goal of the match in overtime (105') as Burkina Faso defeated Togo 1-0.

Here are the match-ups for the semifinal round, with both games to be played on Wednesday.

At Durban:

Mali vs. Nigeria

At Nelspruit:

Burkina Faso vs. Ghana

The losers will play in Saturday's third-place contest, to take place at Port Elizabeth and the winners will play in next Sunday's final at Johannesburg, with the winner of that game to take part in this year's edition of the FIFA Confederations Cup, which will take place in Brazil.

African Nations Cup: Ghana, Mali Advance To Semis

The quarterfinal round of the African Nations Cup commenced with two games played in South Africa on Saturday.

At Port Elizabeth:

Mubarak Wakaso scored both goals (PK-54', 90'+5) in Ghana's 2-0 win over the Cape Verde Islands.

At Durban:

After Seydou Keita's equalizer in the 58th minute enabled Mali to deadlock their match with South Africa at 1-1 through regulation time, then scoreless overtime, Cheick Diabate, Adama Tamboura, and Mahamane Traore all converted their spot kicks as the Eagles won the penalty-kick shootout 3-1 to advance to the semifinal round.

African Nations Cup: Draw Sends Sparrow Hawks To Quarterfinals

Group-stage play in the African Nations Cup concluded with two Group D contests played in South Africa on Wednesday.

At Rustenberg:

Goals from Didier Drogba (77') and Wilfried Bony (81') enabled Ivory Coast, who already locked up a berth in the quarterfinal round, to come back from a two-goal deficit to gain a 2-2 draw with Algeria.  Sofiane Feghouli (PK-64') and El Arbi Hillel Soudani (70') each delivered a goal for the already-eliminated Foxes.

At Nelspruit:

Serge Gakpe scored in the 13th minute as Togo gained a 1-1 draw with Tunisia and locked up the last remaining available berth in the knockout stage.  Khaled Mouelhi converted a penalty kick in the 30th minute for the Eagles of Carthage, who needed a win to advance but instead saw their tournament come to an end.

FINAL GROUP D STANDINGS:

1. Ivory Coast (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 7)
2. Togo (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. Tunisia (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 4)
4. Algeria (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 1)

Ivory Coast and Togo advanced to the quarterfinal round.

Here are the match-ups for this weekend's quarterfinal-round contests:

SATURDAY:

At Durban:

South Africa vs. Mali

At Port Elizabeth:

Ghana vs. Cape Verde Islands

SUNDAY:

At Rustenburg:

Ivory Coast vs. Nigeria

At Nelspruit:

Burkina Faso vs. Togo

African Nations Cup: Super Eagles Join Burkina Faso In Quarterfinals; Copper Bullets Dethroned

Tuesday saw the conclusion of action from Group C of the African Nations Cup with two games contested on Tuesday in South Africa.

At Nelspruit:

A 0-0 draw between quarterfinal-round-bound Burkino Faso and defending champions Zambia, combined with Nigeria's 2-0 win over Ethiopia, eliminated the Copper Bullets from the tournament, ending their one-year reign as champions of Africa.

At Rustenburg:

Two successful penalty kicks from Victor Moses (80', 90'), carried Nigeria to a 2-0 win over Ethiopia as the Super Eagles advanced to the quarterfinal round.

FINAL GROUP C STANDINGS:

1. Burkina Faso (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 5)
2. Nigeria (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 5)
3. Zambia (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
4. Ethiopia (GP: 3; GD: -6; PTS: 1)

Burkina Faso and Nigeria advanced to the quarterfinal round.

African Nations Cup: Ghana, Mali Advance To Quarterfinals

Monday marked the conclusion of Group B play in the African Nations Cup, taking place in South Africa.

At Port Elizabeth:

Asamoah Gyan (6'), Christian Atsu Twasam (23') and John Boye (49') each scored a goal as Ghana dominated Niger 3-0 to win Group B and advance to the quarterfinal round.

At Durban:

Mamadou Samassa's equalizer in the 14th minute lifted Mali to a 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo----and a berth in the quarterfinal round.

FINAL GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. Ghana (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 7)
2. Mali (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
3. Congo (Kinshasa) (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
4. Niger (GP: 3; GD: -4; PTS: 1)

Ghana and Mali advanced to the quarterfinal round.

African Nations Cup: Bafana Bafana, Blue Sharks Advance To Quarterfinals

The final cycle of matches from the group stage of the African Nations Cup commenced on Sunday with two games in Group A played in South Africa.

At Durban:

May Mahlangu (71') and Siyabonga Sangweni (86') provided the scoring that lifted South Africa to a 2-2 draw with Morocco, clinching a berth in the quarterfinal round for the host nation.

At Port Elizabeth:

Fernando Varela (81') and Heldon Ramos (90'+1) provided the scoring as the Cape Verde Islands came from the behind to top Angola 2-1 and lock up a berth in the quarterfinal round.

FINAL GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. South Africa (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 5)
2. Cape Verde Islands (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 5)
3. Morocco (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
4. Angola (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 1)

South Africa and the Cape Verde Islands advanced to the quarterfinal round.

African Nations Cup: Elephants Step On Tunisia, Clinch Berth In Quarterfinals; Sparrow Hawks Eliminate Algeria

The second round of group-stage matches in the African Nations Cup concluded with two games from Group D, played on Saturday at Rustenburg, South Africa.

In the opener, Gervinho (21'), Yaya Toure (87'), and Didier Ya Konan (90') each scored a goal as Ivory Coast dominated Tunisia 3-0 and became the first country to lock up a berth in the quarterfinal round.

In the nightcap, Emmanuel Adebayor (31') and Dove Wome (90'+3) each provided a goal as Togo eliminated Algeria from the tournament with their 2-0 victory.

GROUP D STANDINGS:

1. x-Ivory Coast (GP: 2; GD: +4; PTS: 6)
2. Togo (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Tunisia (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 3)
4. z-Algeria (GP: 2; GD: -3; PTS: 0)

x-Clinched berth in quarterfinal round
z-Eliminated from tournament

African Nations Cup: Late PK Carries Zambia To Draw With Super Eagles; Burkina Faso Too Much For Ethiopia

Two games in Group C of the African Nations Cup were contested at Nelspruit, South Africa on Friday.

In the opener, Kennedy Mweene's penalty kick in the 85th minute lifted Zambia to a 1-1 draw with Nigeria.  Emmanuel Emenike scored for the Super Eagles in the 57th minute.

In the nightcap, Alain Toure scored twice (34', 74') as Burkina Faso, despite finishing with only ten men,  dismantled Ethiopia 4-0.

GROUP C STANDINGS:

1. Burkina Faso (GP: 2; GD: +4; PTS: 4)
2. Zambia (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 2)
3. Nigeria (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 2)
4. Ethiopia (GP: 2; GD: -4; PTS: 1)

African Nations Cup: Ghana On Top Of Group B; Scoreless Draw Between Niger And DRC

Action from Group B in the African Nations Cup continued with two Thursday contests, both taking place at Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

In the opener, Wakaso Mubarak scored the only goal of the match on his successful penalty kick in the 38th minute as Ghana moved to the top of Group B with their 1-0 win over Mali.

In the nightcap, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Niger battled to a 0-0 stalemate.

GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. Ghana (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
2. Mali (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
3. Congo (Kinshasa) (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 2)
4. Niger (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)

African Nations Cup: Big Win For Bafana Bafana; Draw For Morocco And Cape Verde Islands

The second cycle of games from the group stage of the African Nations Cup began with two games on Wednesday, both from Group A, both contested at Durban, South Africa.

In the opener, Siyabonga Sangweni (30') and Lehlohonolo Majoro (62') each scored a goal as South Africa climbed to the top of the Group A standings with their 2-0 blanking of Angola.

In the nightcap, Youssef El-Arabi's 78th-minute equalizer carried Morocco to a 1-1 draw with the Cape Verde Islands.  Luis Carlos Almada Soares, known by the nom-de-plume of Platini, scored in the 36th minute for the Blue Sharks.

GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. South Africa (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 4)
2. Cape Verde Islands (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 2)
3. Morocco (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 2)
4. Angola (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 1)

African Nations Cup: Ivory Coast, Tunisia Open Group D Play With Wins

The initial cycle of African Nations Cup group-stage contests concluded on Tuesday with two Group D games played at Rustenburg, South Africa.

In the opener, Gervinho scored the winning goal in the 88th minute as Ivory Coast defeated Togo 2-1.

In the nightcap, Youssef Msakni scored the winning goal in the opening minute of second-half stoppage time (90'+1) as Tunisia defeated Algeria 1-0.

GROUP D STANDINGS:

1. Ivory Coas (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Tunisia (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Togo (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Algeria (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

African Nations Cup: Two-Draw Monday

Two games in the African Nations Cup were played on Monday, both from Group C, both played at Nelspruit, South Africa.

In the opener, Adane Girma scored the equalizer in the 65th minute, lifting Ethiopia to a 1-1 draw with Zambia.  Collins Mbesuma scored for the defending champs in first-half stoppage time (45'+3).

In the nightcap, Alain Toure's stoppage-time equalizer (90'+4) carried Burkina Faso to a 1-1 draw with Nigeria, whose tally came courtesy of Emmanuel Emenike in the 23rd minute.

GROUP C STANDINGS:

Burkina Faso (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
Ethiopia (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
Nigeria (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
Zambia (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)

African Nations Cup: Mali Blank Niger; Ghana and Democratic Republic of Congo Battled To 2-2 Draw

Group B action from the African Nations Cup commenced on Sunday with two games played at Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

In the opener, Tresor Mputu (53') and Dieumerci Mbokani (PK-68') each scored a goal as the Democratic Republic of the Congo came back from two goals down to gain a 2-2 draw with Ghana.  Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (40') and Kwadno Asamoah (50') each tallied once for the Black Stars.

In the nightcap, Seydou Keita scored the only goal of the match in the 84th minute as Mali defeated Niger 1-0.

GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. Mali (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Congo (Kinshasa) (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. Ghana (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. Niger (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

African Nations Cup: Goose Eggs On Opening Day

Saturday marked the opening day of this year's edition of the African Nations Cup, taking place in South Africa.

Both Saturday contests were played at Johannesburg and took place in Group A.

In the opener, the Cape Verde Islands held host nation South Africa to a 0-0 stalemate.

In the nightcap, Angola and Morocco battled to a 0-0 deadlock.

GROUP A STANDINGS:

Angola (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
Cape Verde Islands (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
Morocco (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
South Africa (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)