FOOTBALL Live

Tuesday January 29, 2008 Finished Essipong Stadium

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Nigeria

  • Mikel 52’
  • Aiyegbeni 86’

Benin

  1. African Cup of Nations - Nigeria go through

    African Cup of Nations - Nigeria go through

    Nigeria finished as runners-up in Group B at the African Nations Cup with a 2-0 win over Benin. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Nigeria
    • Benin
    • 90+3 That's it, Nigeria are through! They had threatened to come unstuck but the quality shone through in the end. They'll now face hosts Ghana in the quarter finals. Thanks for joining us, see you tomorrow for the final Group C matches!
    • 85' GOAL!! Yakubu has sealed the victory for Nigeria! He runs onto Mikel's ball over the top and slots a class finish past Djidonou to end the match in style for the Super Eagles, and condemn Benin to three defeats out of three!
    • 83' Nsofor latches onto the ball across the edge of the box. The ball sticks under his feet but he twists and turns to create the space and asHOOT... IT'S WIDE!! Will Nigeria live to regret that miss?
    • 80' Mikel controls and tidies up a loose ball in midfield with real style. He has been the key man in the Nigeria side, not just for his goal but the way he has controlled the midfield. Ahoueya is stretchered off for treatment.
    • 76' The Benin players look pretty dispirited right now, and are reduced to chasing shadows most of the time. The group is delicately poised though, Nigeria need to get that extra goal to be sure.
    • 64' Uche holds the ball up well in the box and goes to ground, but there are no appeals for a penalty. He keeps hold of the ball as he gets back to his feet, turns and SHOOTS... Another fine save low at the near post!
    • 57' Nsofor had come on for John Utaka just before the goal, and his first significant effort is a thunderbolt shot from miles out! It's wide, but impressive nonetheless!
    • 54' It gets better for ther Super Eagles, as Ivory Coast have got a second against Mali through Kone!! As it stands, Nigeria are through on goal difference!
    • 51' Oketola fouls Mikel in that central area again, and Nigeria have another free kick from distance. Taiwo blasts it low and Djidonou can only parry it out. The ball is liftes over to the far post and MIKEL HEADS IT IN!!! Nigeria are halfway there!
    • 49' Uche rolls it to Yakubu, who has his back to goal. He turns but his shot is blocked and it rebounds to ODEMWINGIE... He flashes a wild left-footed shot right across the face of goal!
    • 47' Omotoyossi has tiem and space to SHOOT... GOOD SAVE EJIDE! The curling shot was a fierce one and needed to be parried for a corner! Benin completely fluff the set piece.
    • 46' We off and running in the second half! With Mali still losing a 2-0 win will see the Super Eagles through!
    • 45+1 Half time is called here at the Essipong Stadium, and for all their dominance Nigeria are yet to create a real clear-cut chance. They'll have to create at least in the second half if they are to have any hopes of progressing.
    • 43' Mikel is shoved in the back by Adjamossi and Nigeria have a free kick. It's played short and Mikel breaks into the box. He jinks and turns Gaspoz inside-out but his chipped cross is awful and it lands on the roof of the net!
    • 38' Uche unleashes an absolute bullet strike from outside the penalty area... but its way over the bar and into the crowd, who haven't paused for breath from their trumpet-playing once so far!
    • 36' They've done it again! Boco controls a crossfield ball brilliantly with his first touch, and is in behind the Nigeria defence, but he balloons his cross way over the area and out for a throw on the other side!
    • 34' Benin have their first sustained spell of possession but, as has been the case pretty much throughout the tournament, the final ball into the box is no use to anyone and nigeria have a goal kick.
    • 28' Odemwingie gets in a great cross from the left, its bound for YAKUBU... Djidonou does well to catch it to stop the Everton striker nodding into an open goal.
    • 25' Mikel slips through a great hrough ball, but both Yakubu and Uche are offside.
    • 21' The Nigerians break straight from that effort and Odemwingie's cross is hacked behind by Adenon for a corner. The set piece comes in and its YOBO WHO GETS TO IT... OVER THE BAR!!
    • 20' Benin have a free kick... It's in a central position but quite far out. Sessegnon STRIKES... Straight into the wall.
    • 18' Odemwingie breaks down the left wing and Djidonou has come out of his area but gets the tackle all wrong!! Odemwingie cuts a ball back in from the byline but a Benin player is there to tidy up!
    • 15' Sessegnon is hauled over by Taiwo and Benin have a free kick out on the right wing. It's cleared back out to GASPOZ... His low drive from distance of tipped round the post by Ejide... GREAT SAVE!!
    • 12' Taiwo shields the ball well under pressure form Omotoyossi. Benin's efforts to leave the competition with a win may backfire on them if Nigeria can pick them off on the break.
    • 10' Nigeria are well on top here, and there is more good news in the form of Didier Drogba scoring for Ivory Coast to send them 1-0 up against Mali!
    • 8' Nigeria break and Mikel comes tearing forward with the ball! He has Uche free to his right but plays it out to Yakubu on the left who had Adenon covering him... A great chance for an opener, Benin looked exposed on the break.
    • 6' Benin fail to deal with an attacking throw and Nigeria have a corner. The set piece flies over everyone and Benin can clear.
    • 5' Uche hounds down Gaspoz as he chases a long ball, but the defender clears well.
    • 2' Yakubu's first touch takes him into the box... He beats the defender and curls his shot just round the far post! Good start by Nigeria!
    • 1' Welcome to Eurosport.Yahoo!'s LIVE coverage of Nigeria v Benin! Nigeria's poor performance so far has left their destiny out of their hands. All they can do is beat Benin by two clear goals and hope that Mali lose to Ivory Coast. The match is underway!

  • Summary

    • 85' GOAL!! Yakubu has sealed the victory for Nigeria! He runs onto Mikel's ball over the top and slots a class finish past Djidonou to end the match in style for the Super Eagles, and condemn Benin to three defeats out of three!
    • 83' Nsofor latches onto the ball across the edge of the box. The ball sticks under his feet but he twists and turns to create the space and asHOOT... IT'S WIDE!! Will Nigeria live to regret that miss?
    • 51' Oketola fouls Mikel in that central area again, and Nigeria have another free kick from distance. Taiwo blasts it low and Djidonou can only parry it out. The ball is liftes over to the far post and MIKEL HEADS IT IN!!! Nigeria are halfway there!
    • 49' Uche rolls it to Yakubu, who has his back to goal. He turns but his shot is blocked and it rebounds to ODEMWINGIE... He flashes a wild left-footed shot right across the face of goal!
    • 47' Omotoyossi has tiem and space to SHOOT... GOOD SAVE EJIDE! The curling shot was a fierce one and needed to be parried for a corner! Benin completely fluff the set piece.
    • 43' Mikel is shoved in the back by Adjamossi and Nigeria have a free kick. It's played short and Mikel breaks into the box. He jinks and turns Gaspoz inside-out but his chipped cross is awful and it lands on the roof of the net!
    • 28' Odemwingie gets in a great cross from the left, its bound for YAKUBU... Djidonou does well to catch it to stop the Everton striker nodding into an open goal.
    • 21' The Nigerians break straight from that effort and Odemwingie's cross is hacked behind by Adenon for a corner. The set piece comes in and its YOBO WHO GETS TO IT... OVER THE BAR!!
    • 18' Odemwingie breaks down the left wing and Djidonou has come out of his area but gets the tackle all wrong!! Odemwingie cuts a ball back in from the byline but a Benin player is there to tidy up!
    • 15' Sessegnon is hauled over by Taiwo and Benin have a free kick out on the right wing. It's cleared back out to GASPOZ... His low drive from distance of tipped round the post by Ejide... GREAT SAVE!!
    • 8' Nigeria break and Mikel comes tearing forward with the ball! He has Uche free to his right but plays it out to Yakubu on the left who had Adenon covering him... A great chance for an opener, Benin looked exposed on the break.

Live Team Line-Up

  • Nigeria

    Manager: Berti Vogts

    On the Field

    • Ejide
    • Nwaneri
    • Shittu
    • Yobo
    • Taiwo
    • Etuhu Substitution Out (74′)
    • Mikel Goal
    • Aiyegbeni Goal
    • Odemwingie Yellow Card Substitution Out (90′)
    • Uche
    • Utaka Substitution Out (52′)

    Subs

    • Kanu
    • Afolabi Substitution In (90′)
    • Enyeama
    • Martins
    • Makinwa
    • Olofinjana
    • Emeghara
    • Nsofor Obinna Substitution In (52′)
    • Eromoigbe Substitution In (74′)
    • Aiyenugba
    • Apam
    • Okonkwo

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Benin

    Manager: Reinhard Fabisch

    On the Field

    • Yoann
    • Adénon
    • Adjamossi Substitution Out (46′)
    • Bocco
    • Chrysostome
    • Gaspoz
    • Ahoueya
    • Oketola Yellow Card
    • Sessegnon Substitution Out (84′)
    • Omotoyossi
    • Tchomogo

    Subs

    • Oladikpikpo
    • Ogunbiyi Substitution In (46′)
    • Tchomogo
    • Maiga Substitution In (84′)
    • Amoussou
    • Séka
    • Aï
    • Rouga
    • Koukou
    • Soglo
    • Abdoulaye

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None