Côte d'Ivoire 3 Mali 0Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria may be bitter sporting rivals, but the Elephants did their West African neighbours an almighty favour last night by clinching their third victory of the group stage against Mali in Accra.
Didier Drogba, Marc Zoro and Boubacar Sanogo were all on target in a fine performance by a below-strength Côte d'Ivoire, who finish top of Group A and are rightly being hailed as favourites to win their first title since 1992.
Guinea await in the quarter-finals and few will be tipping the Syli Nationale to upset Gerard Gili's formidable team.
Mali, for their part, will be ruing their failure to defeat Nigeria four days earlier, despite creating the better chances in a goalless stalemate.
Jean-François Jodar's men never looked capable of matching Côte d'Ivoire and securing the point needed to qualify as runners-up, and Nigeria's 2-0 win over Benin ensured the Super Eagles progress to the last eight, where they will meet Ghana.
"We've lost to a great team and we saw today how strong the Côte d'Ivoire squad is," said Mali's French coach Jodar. "We're disappointed but there's no shame in missing out to big sides like Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria."
With six points already bagged, Côte d'Ivoire rested five regulars, as well as offering injured defender Kolo Toure more recovery time.
Yet the importance of winning the section, and therefore avoiding the hosts in the next round, was reflected by the presence of a steely spine that included Didier Zokora in central defence, Yaya Toure and talisman Drogba.
The Ivorian captain may have had a slow start to the tournament, but, ominously for the others, he is rapidly regaining full form and fitness following knee surgery. Drogba needed just nine minutes to register his second goal of the campaign, clinically placing a right-footed shot inside Mahamadou Sidibe's far post after Toure - imperious again in midfield - had slipped him clear.
There is a swagger about the Côte d'Ivoire that suggests supreme confidence; they defend in an organised manner and pass the ball about at a slow pace, before injecting sudden bursts of pace.
A second goal seemed inevitable and it duly arrived on 55 minutes, Marc Zoro powering home a near-post header from Kader Keita's corner.
With news filtering through from Sekondi that Nigeria were leading, heads began to drop in the Mali ranks. The Mali defence must have breathed a collective sigh of relief when Drogba was substituted on 75 minutes, but within 10 minutes of coming on, Boubacar Sanogo had scored.
After Toure's powerful drive had been parried by Sibide, the burly Hamburg striker had the simple task of prodding home to apply the gloss to another polished Ivorian display.
CÔTE D'IVOIRE: Barry, Eboue, Zokora, Fae, Zoro, Romaric, Tiene, Toure Yaya, Keita (Bakari Kone 59), Arouna Kone, Drogba (Sonoga 75). Subs not used: Tiassa Kone, Loboue, Gohouri, Boka, Meite, Toure, Dindane, Gervinho, Kalou.
MALI: Sidibe, Coulibaly (Diallo 47), Kante, Tamboura, Sammy Traore, Diakite, Keita, Djibril Sidibe, Toure (Dissa 60), Kanoute (Mohamed Sissoko 46), Dramane Traore. Subs not used: Oumar Sissoko, Moussa Coulibaly, Dembele, Amadou Sidibe, Kone, Diamoutene, Mamady Sidibe. Booked: Tamboura.
Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles).
