Nigeria on brink of exit

Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations hopes are hanging by a thread after a 0-0 draw with Mali in Group B.

Yakubu goal disallowed in stalemate

Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations hopes are hanging by a thread after a 0-0 draw with Mali in Group B. After losing to the Ivory Coast in their opening game, Nigeria needed to beat Mali to keep their destiny in their hands. But, despite an open group encounter, neither keeper was seriously tested to leave Mali requiring just a point against the Ivory Coast in their final match to join the Elephants in the next round. The first half produced few chances of note before Mali started the second half strongly with Seydou Keita testing Nigeria keeper Austin Ejide with a low shot. Fredi Kanoute then turned sharply 25 yards from goal and flashed a shot wide before Danny Shittu's ambitious free-kick from distance was well held by Mali keeper Mahamadou Sidibe. Nigeria did have the ball in the net on 79 minutes when Yakubu Aiyegbeni finished from close range, but the Everton striker was offside when substitute John Utaka supplied the pass. Mali then came close to snatching the points, with Keita's well-struck shot from 20 yards crashing against the bar with Ejide beaten. John Obi Mikel drove wide for Nigeria and Kanoute had another half-chance before the final whistle, with the Super Eagles now staring at an early exit.