Kalou golazo decides Ivory Coast-Nigeria showdown

• by Soccer America , Jan 22, 2008

[AFRICAN NATIONS CUP/VIDEO] Dribbling seems to be a lost art these days, but Salomon Kalou put on an extraordinary display of magic on the ball to score the only goal in Ivory Coast's 1-0 win over Nigeria in a battle of giants Monday at the African Nations Cup in Sekondi.

The Chelsea forward won the game when he picked up the ball outside Nigeria's penalty area, slalomed through three Nigerian defenders and slotted the ball past charging keeper Austin Ejide from close range.

In beating the second and third defenders, Seyi George Olofinjana and Joseph Yobo, Kalou pulled the same trick, drawing the ball toward each player, then pulling it away and heading in the other direction.

In other action, Morocco came within one goal of tying the African Nations Cup record for goals in a game when it beat Namibia, 5-1, in Group A. Soufiane Alloudi led the Lions of Atlas with a 28-minute hat trick.

Mali beat Benin, 1-0, on a Frederic Kanoute penalty shortly after halftime in another Group B match.


(Television: Available on-demand online at 3A Telesud.)

SCOREBOARD
Group A
Jan. 20 in Accra
Ghana 2 Guinea 1
Jan. 21 in Accra
Morocco 5 Namibia 1
Jan. 24 in Accra
Guinea vs. Morocco
Ghana vs. Namibia
Jan. 28 in Accra
Ghana vs. Morocco
Jan. 28 in Sekondi
Guinea vs. Namibia

Group B
Jan. 21 in Sekondi
Ivory Coast 1 Nigeria 0
Mali 1 Benin 0
Jan. 25 in Sekondi
Ivory Coast vs. Benin
Nigeria vs. Mali
Jan, 29 in Sekondi
Nigeria vs. Benin
Jan. 29 in Accra
Ivory Coast vs. Mali

Group C
Jan. 22 in Kumasi
Egypt vs. Cameroon
Zambia vs. Sudan
Jan. 26 in Kumasi
Cameroon vs. Zambia
Egypt vs. Sudan
Jan. 30 in Kumasi
Cameroon vs. Sudan
Jan. 30 in Tamale
Egypt vs. Zambia

Group D
Jan. 23 in Tamale
Tunisia vs. Senegal
South Africa vs. Angola
Jan. 27 in Tamale
Senegal vs. Angola
Tunisia vs. South Africa
Jan. 31 in Kumasi
Senegal vs. South Africa
Jan. 31 in Tamale
Tunisia vs. Angola

Quarterfinals
Feb. 3 in Accra
Match 1: A1 vs. B2
Feb. 3 in Tamale
Match 2: B1 vs. A2
Feb. 4 in Sekondi
Match 3: C1 vs. D2
Feb. 4 in Kumasi
Match 4: D1 vs. C2

Semifinals
Feb. 7 in Accra
Match 1 winner vs. Match 4 winner
Feb. in Kumasi
Match 2 winner vs. Match 3 winner

Third-Place Game
Feb. 9 in Accra

Final
Feb. 10 in Accra