Mali, Senegal win at Nations Cup
TUNIS, Tunisia (Reuters) -- Mali, inspired by new striker Frederic Kanoute, became the second side to reach the African Nations Cup quarterfinals.
Senegal, one of the pre-tournament favorites, got their campaign firmly on track with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Kenya in Group B.
Kanoute scored the first goal and made another as Mali marched past neighbors Burkina Faso with a 3-1 win on a chilly night in Tunis.
Kanoute, who plays for English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, took his goal tally in the tournament to three for his new country, opening with a well taken finish in the 34th minute after a superb through ball from captain Mahamadou Diarra.
Three minutes later Diarra got a goal of his own to double the score, rising high to head home a corner.
But Burkina Faso fought back after the break and pulled a goal back through substitute Dieudonne Minoungou, who had come on at the interval.
It took a sublime touch from Kanoute to ensure Mali's progress, as he provided Soumaila Coulibaly with a perfect pass for a comfortable finish 12 minutes from time.
Earlier in Bizerte, Senegal scored three goals in just over 30 minutes to hammer Kenya, who are now out of contention.
Senegal, World Cup quarterfinalists 18 months ago, went ahead through Mamadou Niang after only four minutes.
Striker Niang, who had already missed a free header, made no mistake when he latched on to El Hadji Diouf's defense-splitting pass, rounded goalkeeper Francis Onyiso and steered the ball past the last defender.
Pape Bouba Diop's 19th-minute effort increased the tally against a hapless Kenyan defense while another from Niang put them three up before halftime.
Senegal, runners-up at the last Nations Cup, now just need a draw in their final group game against Mali in Tunis on Monday to join their neighbors in the last eight.
Burkina Faso have only a slim chance of reaching the quarterfinals and must beat Kenya handsomely in Bizerte on Monday while hoping Senegal are beaten by Mali.
Kenya, who last played at the Nations Cup 12 years ago, are still seeking their first win after 13 matches in the tournament over the years.
Nigerian trio sent home
Celestine Babayaro, Yakubu Ayegbeni and Victor Agali have been dismissed from Nigeria's African Nations Cup squad for indiscipline.
"They are being sent home because they broke the rules of the camp," Taiwo Obunjobi, the general secretary of the Nigerian Football Association, told Reuters at the team hotel near the tourist resort of Monastir.
He would not confirm suggestions that they had all returned late to the camp on Thursday after a night out, but said the three players would all be leaving the team's base and would not be taking any further part in the competition.
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