nigeria - mali

[Guest easypunter]

Nigeria Team News Midfielder Seyi Olofinjana and defender Isaac Okoronkwo are suspended and Ikpe Ekong and Romanus Orjinta will take over them. Mali Team News No team news available. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nigeria Track Record In African Nations Cup LWWWD F9 A4 Semi-final Tunisia 1 Nigeria 1 (Tunisia go through on penalty shootout) Quarter Final Cameroon 1 Nigeria 2 Group D Nigeria 2 Benin 1 Group D Nigeria 4 South Africa 0 Group D Nigeria 0 Morocco 1 Mali Track Record In African Nations Cup WWDWL F9 A8 Semi-final Mali 0 Morocco 4 Quarter Final Mali 2 Guinea 1 Group B Senegal 1 Mali 1 Group B Burkina F 1 Mali 3 Group B Kenya 1 Mali 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mali had done well to reach the semi final while everyone expected Nigeria to be at least in the semi final, if not the final. However Mali got thrash 0-4 by Morocco in the semi final and I'm sure the players morale will be affected badly. Nigeria is expected to win the African Nations Cup after they defeated Cameroon but was stopped in the track by host Tunisia. Now the final is between 2 unexpected teams, Tunisia and Morocco. As expected, both teams will field some reserve players and rest some of their key players. However both teams claimed that 3rd placing is important to them. I think Mali will want the 3rd placing more than Nigeria. Nigeria players may be gifted techinically and playing in Europe, but Mali also has many good players playing in Europe too. They will want to beat Nigeria to the 3rd placing to prove that they are not as bad as the 0-4 lost to Morocco suggested. Mali had not expected themselves to reach so far and a 3rd placing will be more than a consolation. Nigeria players will not take this game as seriously as Mali. 3rd placing is not enough for them. They are expected to reach the final. To lost in a penalty shootout will deflat their morale more than Mali 0-4 lost to Morocco. Since the game is of no value to them, expect the players to play individually instead of as a team. Nigeria had been known not to be a team that can play together. Mali will be expected to improve on their defence and play as a team to take the 3rd placing. I will back Mali +1/4 asianhandicap.