Nigeria now have a mountain to climb at the Africa Nations Championship, after the Eagles were beaten 2-1 by Mali on the second Group A game...
Nigeria now have a mountain to climb at the Africa Nations Championship, after the Eagles were beaten 2-1 by Mali on the second Group A game played at the Cape Town stadium on Saturday.
Chigozie Agbom, the skipper and the goalkeeper of the side will likely get the blame for both goals, as he made only one solid save all through the encounter.
The Eagles struggled in defence all through the encounter as the Malians found a way through time and again, but were limited by their lack of goal sense.
Still, Mali took the lead in the 17th minute through Abdoulaye Sissoko, when his slightly deflected shot sailed into the net.
Mali doubled their lead on 50 minutes, when Adama Traore sweetly struck home from a tight angle through goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim’s legs.
Gbolahan Salami came off the bench to pull a goal back for Nigeria with a header off a free kick in the 54th minute.
South Africa now sit atop the Group following their 3-1 win over Mozambique earlier on, with Mali in second place with goals from Bernard Parker and Hlompo Kekana.
The Eagles are in third position courtesy of the lesser number of goals conceded.
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