Cameroon and Senegal reach African Nations Cup final

African Nations Cup semifinal matches summary
Mali 0
Cameroon 3 - Salomon Olembe 40, 45, Marc-Vivien Foe 84
Halftime: 0-2; Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Lim Kee Chong (Mauritius)

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Nigeria 1 - Julius Aghahowa 88
Senegal 2 - Pape Bouba Diop 54, Salif Diao 98
Halftime: 0-0; after extra time : 1-1;
Attendance: 20,000
Red Cards: Julius Aghahowa 111, Ifeanyi Udeze 120 (Nigeria), Pape Sarr 35 (Senegal)
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)

BAMAKO, Feb 7 (AFP)-- Cameroon and Senegal reached the final of the African Nations Cup here Thursday as the tournament exploded into life with two drama-filled semi-finals.

Reigning champions Cameroon downed hosts Mali 3-0 in a highly charged but one-sided game while earlier Senegal defeated Nigeria in a 2-1 extra-time thriller that saw three players sent off.

World Cup qualifiers Senegal reached their first ever Nations Cup final after an epic battle with the Nigerians, who equalised in the dying minutes and missed an agonising extra-time penalty.

Salif Diao was the hero for Senegal, netting the winner after his team had been just five minutes away from victory in normal time.

"It is mission accomplished. The boys are heroes," said Senegal coach Bruno Metsu after the absorbing encounter.

"Nigeria are a good team but we were destined to win today. I join all the people of Senegal to celebrate this important victory.

"We were criticised back home for not playing well but today we all saw that this team can fight. This is a solid team."

Pape Bouba Diop had given the Senegalese the lead in the 54th minute before Nigeria grabbed an equaliser five minutes from the end of normal time. Nigeria, fellow World Cup qualifiers, were awarded a penalty with 20 minutes left in extra time after Arsenal star Kanu was fouled only for Wilson Oruma to hit the post. Senegal's Pape Sarr was the first to receive the red card in the first half, but Nigeria were to finish with nine men after both Aghahowa and Ifeanyi Udeze were dismissed in extra time. In Thursday's other semi-final, Cameroon's 'Indomitable Lions' wrecked host nation Mali's dream with a comprehensive win. The goal-hero for defending champions Cameroon was France-based midfielder Salomon Olembe, who struck twice in six minutes towards the end of the first half to effectively snuff out host nation Mali's hopes of a win. Lyon midfielder Marc Vivien Foe sealed the rout seven minutes from time, rounding off a marvelous Cameroon counter-attack by rounding Mali goalkeeper Mahamadou Sidibe to roll the ball home. Marseille star Olembe's two-goal burst left the 55,000 crowd at Bamako's March 26 Stadium stunned into silence at the end of a drama-filled evening which had earlier seen Cameroon assistant coach Thomas Nkono arrested. In extraordinary scenes, goalkeeping coach Nkono was bundled off the pitch by several riot policemen in the build-up to kick off and was led away in handcuffs before later being released. Cameroon's 'Indomitable Lions' gave their best possible riposte to the furore on the pitch however, their football doing the talking in a match they controlled from first to last. Olembe's first goal came on 39 minutes. Striker Pius Ndiefi - drafted into the squad in place of the injured Patrick Mboma - made a fine run down the right before cutting back from the byline. Olembe was on hand to coolly sidefoot home the opener with Sidibe beaten hands down. On the stroke of half-time Olembe and Ndiefi combined again to deliver the killer blow. This time Olembe picked up the ball 30 yards from goal, and laid off to Ndiefi before sprinting into the box. Ndiefi's return pass was perfect and Olembe's crisp finish flew past Sidibe for 2-0. Cameroon hit the woodwork twice in the second half before Foe completed proceedings with an easy finish after a wonderful counter-attack.