Article

Toure believes in Nigeria

6 February 2013 14:04

Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure feels Nigeria are more than capable of winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Ivorians had been favourites to lift the trophy, but were eliminated by the Super Eagles in the quarter-finals, and the Manchester City man believes his side's conquerors have the quality it takes to go all the way.

"Nigeria were stronger than us," he told Goal.com.

"I am expecting them to win all of their remaining games in the tournament. I mean, they are two steps away from lifting this trophy.

"Stephen Keshi is a good coach and he has changed Nigeria into a respectable team. I think he won’t have a problem beating Mali because he was their coach, he understands their culture."

Nigeria and Mali play in a semi-final on Wednesday, while Burkina Faso tackle Ghana in the other semi.

Info

Mali

W L W L W

1 - 4

Nigeria

D W W W W

Competition

Half-time: 0 - 3
Full-time: 1 - 4

Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban)
Attendance: 54000

Goals

	0 - 1	25' U. Echiejile (assist by V. Moses)
	0 - 2	30' B. Ideye (assist by E. Emenike)
	0 - 3	44' E. Emenike (assist by O. Onazi)
	0 - 4	60' A. Musa (assist by J. Obi Mikel)
C. Diarra 75' (assist by C. Diabaté)	1 - 4

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
1	M. Samassa
3	A. Tamboura
2	F. Diawara	84'
21	M. N'Diaye
13	M. Wagué
12	S. Kéita
6	M. Sissoko
17	M. Traoré
8	K. Traoré
15	M. Samassa
10	M. Maïga	38'
Coach: P. Carteron

#	Player	Bookings
1	V. Enyeama
3	U. Echiejile	25'
5	E. Ambrose	26'
22	K. Omeruo
14	G. Oboabona
10	J. Obi Mikel
11	V. Moses
17	O. Onazi
19	S. Mba
8	B. Ideye	30'
9	E. Emenike	44'
Coach: S. Keshi

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
7	C. Diarra for M. Maïga 46'	75'
9	C. Diabaté for M. Sissoko 56'
18	S. Sow for M. Traoré 67'	69'
4	A. Coulibaly
5	I. Coulibaly
11	S. Diarra
16	Soumbeïla Diakité
19	S. Coulibaly
20	Samba Diakité
22	A. Yirango
23	O. Coulibaly
14	S. Yatabaré

#	Player	Bookings
7	A. Musa for V. Moses 53'	60'
18	E. Uzoenyi for B. Ideye 72'
2	J. Yobo for E. Ambrose 81'
4	N. Obiora
12	R. Gabriel
13	F. Ogude
15	I. Uche
16	A. Ejide
20	N. Igiebor
21	J. Oshaniwa
23	C. Agbim
6	A. Egwueke

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17:56	Neymar set to leave Santos ´within 10 days´
17:51	Gill expects Rooney stay
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16:59	Shechter grateful for Swansea support
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16:43	Reading release six players
16:41	Monaco splash out for Moutinho, Rodriguez
16:32	Rummenigge: Bayern not complacent
16:07	Giroud seeks improvement
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16:03	AZ bolster defensive stocks
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15:52	Andreolli poised for Inter return
15:22	Bianchi: Boca players tired
15:05	Cech: Mourinho a great manager
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13:52	Osman extends Everton stay
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04:37	San Lorenzo renew Coloccini pursuit
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04:13	Cleverley taking inspiration from Spain
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21:17	Foster happy with eighth-placed finish
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19:44	UEFA to announce Europa League incentive
19:31	Fonte looking to hit the ground running
19:21	Hodgson keen to hand Jones defensive role
18:43	Onuoha: Keep the faith with QPR owners
18:09	Karagounis praises Fulham fans
18:07	McDermott: Byram keen on Leeds stay
18:02	Martinez´s Wigan future to be decided next week
17:47	Rodriguez: I think I will leave Porto
17:44	Erbes ´relaxed´ ahead of Newell´s clash
17:20	CSL Preview: Shandong Luneng eye top spot
17:18	Kwakman to leave Groningen
16:45	Werder Bremen complete Petersen signing
16:28	Mancini Inter return is possible, says Moratti
16:20	Baines: Everton must progress without Moyes
16:07	Nicollin: Cabella worth 100 million euros
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15:09	Ferdinand extends Manchester United deal
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05:16	Piszczek set for post-season surgery
04:48	Adriano signs Barca extension
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02:35	Ramsey, Walcott hail Wenger´s achievements
02:20	Loew regrets timing of German finale

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20:48	AFC Champions League Wrap: Lekhwiya hold on to progress
20:37	Thomas, Jara released by West Brom
20:16	Martinez to decide future
20:04	Pearce: Championship will not hold back McCarthy
19:05	Pulis: I understand Stoke´s decision
18:39	Vidic reflects on ´amazing´ season
18:17	Bale: Spurs will bounce back
17:56	Petrov to become academy coach at Aston Villa
17:56	De Laurentiis begins search for Mazzarri replacement
17:52	New York City FC appoint Reyna
17:50	Pardew: We should try emulate Liverpool
17:20	Ribery: Bayern stronger than Dortmund
17:04	Conte building for the future at Juventus
16:52	Bundesliga Play-off Preview: Hoffenheim v Kaiserslautern
16:52	Ibrahimovic coy on PSG future
16:33	Goetze to miss Champions League final
16:22	Giroud wants better European showing from Arsenal
16:07	Chelsea´s England players to leave tour early
16:05	Fiorentina capture Yakovenko
15:25	Pellegrini and Malaga to part company
15:04	Fulham sign Boateng
14:50	Green wants first-team football at QPR
14:12	Britton set for surgery
14:03	Neville interested in Everton job
13:42	Holloway: Brighton incident motivated Palace players
13:36	Rodgers confident of keeping Suarez at Liverpool
13:25	Eredivisie Preview: Twente v Utrecht
13:21	Etherington praises Pulis´ work at Stoke
13:17	Vlaar excited for new season at Aston Villa
12:01	Badstuber sidelined for 10 months after knee surgery
11:21	Clichy: Manchester City were right to sack Mancini
11:10	Cole set for West Ham departure
10:27	Lampard: It was tough under Benitez
10:11	Mourinho branded a ´failure´
06:44	Carroll out of England squad
05:37	Nasri throws support behind Pellegrini
05:07	Kewell unhappy with Australia omission
04:58	Messi: Neymar would be a wonderful addition
01:22	Doll: Dortmund are not underdogs

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