Mali may have put in an unconvincing performance in beating Benin yesterday evening but they are now joint leaders of Group B with Ivory Coast, leaving one of the pre-tournament favourites Nigeria in third place.

Each team in the Africa Cup of Nations appears to have at least one big star player and Mali is no exception.  They are led by the charismatic Seville striker Frederic Kanoute.  The former West Ham and Tottenham striker scored a penalty on 49 minutes after Dramane Traore had been fouled by Alain Gaspoz.

Mali had chances to score more goals. Stoke City and former Gillingham striker Mamady Sidibe missed an easy chance in the 75th minute to give Mali a two goal lead, as did Real Madrid’s Diarra and Spain-based Keita.