African Nations Cup - Senegal 2 Nigeria 1

Senegal reached their first ever African Nations Cup final with a 2-1 extra time win over tournament favourites Nigeria.

Salif Diao scored the winner after Nigeria had equalised in the 85th minute to send the game into extra time.

That session saw Nigeria waste a penalty kick after Wilson Oruma drove a spot kick against the post in a game that saw three red cards.

Nigeria ended the game with nine men after Julius Aghahowa and Ifeanyi Udeze were sent off for second bookings in extra time.

Aghahowa was dismissed for a clumsy challenge after Oruma missed the penalty and Udeze clashed threw a punch and kick to at Henry Cisse to earn his red card.

Earlier Senegal had been reduced to ten men in the first half when Pape Sarr was sent off but they took the lead in the 54th minute despite this disadvantage. Sarr pushed the referee and had to be manhandled away from the pitch after Lawal went down following a challenge. Sarr did not catch the Nigerian but did raise his elbow leaving the referee no choice but to send him off to his fury.

Cisse had almost scored for Senegal in the opening minute when a cross from the right was deflected onto the post and Jay Jay Okocha lashed a free kick against a post for Nigeria later in the first half.

Pape Bouba headed his side into the lead after Ike Shorunmu failed to collect a corner kick when he charged out of goal in an untidy game but Julius Aghahowa pegged them back to level terms with five minutes to go when Senegal failed to clear a through pass and hesitant defending from goalkeeper Tony Silva allowed the attacker to poke the ball past him.

Diao scored from close range when he scuffed a shot into the net that bobbled wide of the goalkeeper to make history for the French league dominated side. They avenged a quarter final defeat by Nigeria in the previous edition of the finals in 2000 in a game marred by a Nigerian offical invading the pitch to remove a 'lucky charm' from the Senegal goal.