By DPA
Sekondi (Ghana) : Nigeria are in danger of losing out on a place in the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup after being held to a 0-0 draw by Mali while Ivory Coast beat Benin 4-1 in the other Group B game played here.
In the later game Friday, which Nigeria needed to win to take control of their fate, both sides were equally determined in going forward in the first half without creating any real chances.
On several occasions the Nigerian forwards were guilty of wasting too much time in front of goal allowing the Mali defenders to come back.
Two minutes after the restart, Seydou Keita nearly gave Mali the lead with a powerful long-range effort that Austin Ejide did well to keep out.
On the hour, Nigeria came close to scoring when Obinna Nsofor shot from close range but Yakubu Aiyegbeni failed to connect with the rebound.
Shortly after Danny Shittu nearly scored with a free kick, which Mali goalie Mahamadou Sidibe saved.
Aiyegbeni had the ball in the back of the net with 10 minutes to go, but was adjudged to have been offside.
A few minutes later, it was Mali who could consider themselves unlucky as Keita’s shot crashed against the crossbar.
It was the first time in their history that Nigeria failed to score a single goal in their first two matches at an African Nations Cup tournament.
In the earlier game, another disappointing crowd of 10,000 in the 20,000-seater Essipong Stadium saw Benin’s defence stand firm for the opening 40 minutes as the fancied Ivory Coast controlled the game.
Ivory Coast finally broke down the resistance five minutes from the break as Yaya Toure played a defence splitting through ball, which came to Chelsea striker Didier Drogba who slipped it under goalkeeper Rachad Chitou.
They added another just three minutes later as Yaya Toure pushed a cross from his brother Kolo Toure over the line. The Arsenal defender Kolo was substituted shortly afterwards after picking up a groin injury. Initial reports suggested that he might be flown to the Ivory Coast capital, Abidjan, for further tests.
It took Ivory Coast just seven minutes after the restart to add a third goal as Drogba and Kader Keita put the Benin defender under pressure after a goal-kick and Keita scored.
In the 62nd minute, Drogba showed all his skill as he controlled a corner, played the ball to Aruna Dindane and the Lens striker headed home.
In injury time, Razak Omotoyossi pulled one back for Benin after a goalmouth scramble during which the Ivory Coast defenders failed to clear the ball.
The result sees Ivory Coast top the group with six points. Mali have four points, Nigeria have one while Benin have none. A draw between Mali and Ivory Coast in their final game would see both teams advance to the quarterfinals.