FOOTBALL Live

Tuesday January 29, 2008 Finished Ohene Djan Stadium

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Ivory Coast

  • Drogba 8’
  • Zoro Kpolo 53’
  • Sanogo 85’

Mali

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Ivory Coast
    • Mali
    • 85' GOAL! 3-0 Ivory Coast! Yaya Toure's shot from the edge of the box is parried by Sidibe and substitute Boubacar Sanogo taps the ball home from close range!
    • 83' Apologies for the delay in bringing live comments to you. We're experiencing a few problems at Eurosport HQ. You've missed Drogba having a header cleared off the line on 60 minutes, Dramane Traore hitting the bar for Mali with a header on 68 minutes and Djibril Sidibe firing a long-range shot inches wide moments later. And Zoro has just put a header wide from a corner on 82 minutes! As things stand, Mali are going out. They have to score.
    • 55' GOAL! 2-0 Ivory Coast! Even worse news for Mali! Zoro meets Toure's left-wing corner at the near post and sends a header past Sidibe! But if Mali manage to score, they would go through on goals scored.
    • 54' Bad news for Mali fans - Nigeria have scored! If it stays like this, Mali are out!
    • 53' Djibril Sidibe's corner is over-hit, and they win another one on the other side, but Ivory Coast are able to clear.
    • 51' Bassala Toure wins a corner for Mali after a strong run down the left.
    • 50' Worrying news for Ivory Coast and Chelsea fans - Didier Drogba is down! But he trots off the pitch to receive treatment, and looks like he'll be able to continue.
    • 49' A positive start to this second half by Mali!
    • 47' Keita takes the free-kick, curls it round the wall and forces Barry into a save!
    • 46' The second half begins! Zoro fouls Seydou Keita on the edge of the Ivory Coast box. Incidentally, Diallo came on for Adama Coulibaly.
    • H-T Mali make a change at half-time. Momo Sissoko - who today finalised his move from Liverpool to Juvenuts - comes on for Freddie Kanoute, which is a bit of a surprise. Mamadou Diallo has also come on.
    • 45+1' The half-time whistle goes. Ivory Coast look pretty comfortable, but Mali can count themselves lucky to be only a goal down. As things stand - with Nigeria and Benin drawing 0-0 - Mali will go through...
    • 45' Keita was caught as he shot, and Mali are awarded a free-kick. Djibril Sidibe's effort goes well over though.
    • 44' Keita slashes at a shot from distance, but it goes well wide.
    • 42' The Elephants play some lovely, patient football at times. After a patient build-up Yaya Toure looks to thread the ball through to Drogba, but he's offside.
    • 41' Drogba looks for Tiene down the left, but gets too much on his pass and it runs through to Sidibe.
    • 40' Barry is slow off his line after Tamboura prods the ball into the box, and Zoro swoops to clean things up again.
    • 39' Barry easily claims an over-hit cross from the right.
    • 37' Adama Tamboura is booked for a shuddering challenge from behind on Drogba.
    • 35' Tiene cuts inside and whips in a cross from the left, and Aroune Kone puts his header wide! But the whistle had already gone for a nudge by Kone.
    • 33' Drogba attempts a back-heel inside the Mali box, but it flicks off his hand and a free-kick is awarded.
    • 30' Mali go close! They win a free-kick about 30 yards from goal, it's played to the back post and Sammy Traore heads the ball wide with only the 'keeper to beat!
    • 28' What a miss! Siaka Tiene scampers down the left and swings in a perfect cross, but Arouna Kone can't direct his header on target and it bounces wide of the far post!
    • 27' Ivory Coast are bossing possession at the moment.
    • 25' Great stuff from Emerse Fae! The Reading man slips past a couple of challenges on the right, but can't find a team-mate with his cross.
    • 24' A familiar sight for Premier League fans here - Eboue is rolling around on the ground after being felled by Kante.
    • 23' Drogba is penalised for a foul on Kante.
    • 22' Seydou Keita cracks in a left-footed shot from distance, but it's blocked. Ivory Coast are inviting Mali to attack them.
    • 20' Kanoute chases after a through-ball, and with Barry venturing tentatively from his line, Zoro has to clear!
    • 19' What a chance! Koffi Ndri's corner picks out Marc Zoro unmarked six yards from goal, but he puts his header wide!
    • 18' Drogba's cross from the right is deflected behind for a corner by Cedric Kante.
    • 16' Bassala Toure looks for Freddie Kanoute, but the through-ball is intercepted.
    • 15' Arouna Kone nicks the ball off Sammy Traore on the Ivory Coast right, but he can't prevent the ball going behind for a goal kick.
    • 13' Koffi Ndri - who has 'Romaric' on the back of his shirt - concedes a free-kick in midfield. Djibril Sidibe plays it towards Sammy Traore inside the box, but it's just too long and Barry claims it.
    • 12' Dramane Traore bursts into the Ivory Coast area but Eboue manages to hoof the ball clear!
    • 10' That sets things up very nicely indeed. Mali have to score!
    • 9' GOAL! 1-0 Ivory Coast! Yaya Toure finds Drogba on the left of the area, and he takes a touch before curling the ball past Mahamadou Sidibe to mark his 50th cap with a goal!
    • 8' Dramane Traore dispossesses Emmanuel Eboue on the left-hand side but a slip prevents him from keeping the ball in play, and it's a goal kick for Ivory Coast.
    • 6' Drogba wins a corner on the right. It's taken short and Christian Koffi Ndri curls it to the back post with his left foot, but Yaya Toure just can't get his head to it!
    • 5' Yaya Toure looks for Arouna Kone with a pass towards the left touchline, but the Sevilla man can't keep it in play.
    • 3' Zokora concedes a corner on the Mali left with an awkward header that Boubacar Barry can't reach. It's swung into the box dangerously, and Drogba has to head it away from beneath his own crossbar!
    • 2' Ivory Coast knock the ball around at the back for a while, before Didier Zokora looks to pick out Drogba with a long ball, but the Chelsea man is offside.
    • 1' And we're off! The Eagles get things underway. If this really were Eagles v Elephants, you'd have to fancy the Elephants' chances. Luckily for Mali, it's not.
    • - The teams take to the field at the Accra Sports Stadium. Mali are in green shirts with a yellow splash on the front, green shorts and red socks, while Ivory Coast sport their distinctive orange shirts, white shorts and white socks. The sky is overcast, but it's probably still pretty darn hot out there.
    • - The Elephants are missing Arsenal defender Kolo Toure, who has a groin injury, while Mali must do without suspended Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra. Didier Drogba wins his 50th cap for Ivory Coast tonight, and is looking to add to a phenomenal tally of 31 international goals.
    • - Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles)
    • - Mali: Mahamadou Sidibe; Adama Coulibaly, Kante, Tamboura, Sammy Traore; Drissa Diakite, Keita, Djibril Sidibe, Toure; Kanoute, Dramane Traore
    • - Ivory Coast: Barry; Eboue, Zokora, Fae, Zoro; Romaric, Tiene, Toure Yaya, Keita; Arouna Kone, Drogba
    • - Ivory Coast have already qualified for the next round and a point for The Elephants will secure them top spot in the group, thereby ensuring they avoid host nation Ghana in the quarter finals. A point, likewise, will guarantee Mali's progress to the quarter finals. So devil-may-care attacking football is probably not on the agenda. Let's just hope it's not a complete fudge. If Mali lose and Nigeria win against Benin they'll be level on points, and it'll get complicated...
    • - Good afternoon and welcome to eurosport.yahoo.com's LIVE coverage of this African Cup of Nations Group B clash between Ivory Coast and Mali. Kick-off is at 17:00 GMT, so join us then.

  • Summary

    • 85' GOAL! 3-0 Ivory Coast! Yaya Toure's shot from the edge of the box is parried by Sidibe and substitute Boubacar Sanogo taps the ball home from close range!
    • 55' GOAL! 2-0 Ivory Coast! Even worse news for Mali! Zoro meets Toure's left-wing corner at the near post and sends a header past Sidibe! But if Mali manage to score, they would go through on goals scored.
    • 47' Keita takes the free-kick, curls it round the wall and forces Barry into a save!
    • 30' Mali go close! They win a free-kick about 30 yards from goal, it's played to the back post and Sammy Traore heads the ball wide with only the 'keeper to beat!
    • 28' What a miss! Siaka Tiene scampers down the left and swings in a perfect cross, but Arouna Kone can't direct his header on target and it bounces wide of the far post!
    • 20' Kanoute chases after a through-ball, and with Barry venturing tentatively from his line, Zoro has to clear!
    • 19' What a chance! Koffi Ndri's corner picks out Marc Zoro unmarked six yards from goal, but he puts his header wide!
    • 9' GOAL! 1-0 Ivory Coast! Yaya Toure finds Drogba on the left of the area, and he takes a touch before curling the ball past Mahamadou Sidibe to mark his 50th cap with a goal!

Live Team Line-Up

  • Ivory Coast

    Manager: Gérard Gili

    On the Field

    • Barry Copa
    • Eboue
    • Zoro Kpolo Goal
    • Zokora
    • Tiene
    • Faé
    • Touré
    • Romaric
    • Keita Substitution Out (59′)
    • Koné
    • Drogba Goal Substitution Out (75′)

    Subs

    • Loboué
    • Dindane
    • Toure
    • Boka
    • Kalou
    • Sanogo Substitution In (75′) Goal
    • Meite
    • Gohouri
    • Gervinho
    • Koné
    • Djakpa

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Mali

    Manager: Jean-François Jodar

    On the Field

    • Sidibé
    • Diakité
    • Traoré
    • Coulibaly Substitution Out (47′)
    • Kanté
    • Tamboura Yellow Card
    • Keita
    • Sidibé
    • Touré Substitution Out (60′)
    • Traoré
    • Kanouté Substitution Out (46′)

    Subs

    • Dissa Substitution In (60′)
    • Sidibe
    • Diamoutene
    • Traoré
    • Sissoko Substitution In (46′)
    • Diallo Substitution In (47′)
    • Sissoko
    • Koné
    • Sidibé
    • Dembelé

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None