SEKONDI, 30 January 2008 — Midfielder John Obi Mikel scored and set up another as Nigeria beat Benin 2-0 to reach the quarterfinals of the African Nations Cup yesterday.

The Super Eagles will meet hosts Ghana for a last four spot on Sunday while Group B winners Ivory Coast, who beat Mali 3-0 in Accra, will take on Guinea. Mali, who needed a draw to progress, are eliminated on goal difference.

Nigeria improved after a lackluster first half at the Essipon stadium and made the breakthrough on 52 minutes when Obi Mikel headed in a Peter Odemwingie cross after Benin keeper Yoann Djidonou had failed to clear a Taye Taiwo free kick.

The Chelsea midfielder set up striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni to seal the win with a clinical finish four minutes from time.

Berti Vogts’ side had failed to score in their first two matches, losing 1-0 to Ivory Coast and drawing 0-0 against Mali.

Yakubu spurned an early chance to calm Nigeria’s nerves when he curled his shot just wide from a good position.

Nigeria keeper Austin Ejide did well to turn Alain Gaspoz’s shot around the post as Benin countered but there were few first-half chances of note.

Benin, who were eliminated before kickoff and have now lost all their matches in two Nations Cup finals, had an opportunity two minutes into the second half but Stephane Sessegnon’s attempt was parried away by Ejide.

Nigeria’s fans were finally able to celebrate when Mikel arrived at the far post to head the opener.

Second-half substitute Victor Nsofor almost doubled the lead when his 67th-minute header hit the crossbar before Yakubu made the game safe.

• Didier Drogba marked his 50th international cap with a goal to help Ivory Coast beat Mali 3-0 to finish the opening round as Group B leaders in Accra.

With qualification to the last eight already in the bag Ivory Coast were intent on finishing top of the table with a perfect nine points to avoid hosts Ghana in the quarterfinals.

And goals from Drogba, Benfica’s Marc Zoro and Boubacar Sanogo accomplished the mission to leave them facing Group A runners-up Guinea in Sekondi on Sunday.

For Mali, who have never lifted the continental crown, it was time to say goodbye to Ghana after Nigeria secured the other last eight ticket on offer from Group B with victory over Benin up in Sekondi.

The Ivory Coast’s injured Arsenal full back Kolo Toure was one of five changes coach Gerard Gili made from the side that beat Benin to clinch their place in the quarterfinals. Momo Sissoko, back from signing his new contract with Juventus, started on the bench.

Mali were without suspended Real Madrid midfielder and skipper Mahamadou Diarra, Greece-based Bassala Toure inheriting the captain’s armband.

With one point each a mutually convenient result for these west African neighbors Mali were at pains to rule out any type of ‘deal’ to engineer a draw in the pre-match buildup.

Parity might have suited Drogba too, given that his wife is Malian, but he risked a frosty reception at home when putting the Ivorians into a ninth minute lead.

The team’s talisman ran on to Yaya Toure’s pass and slotted the ball right-footed past Mali keeper Mahamadou Sidibe from the left of the area.

That was his second of the competition and it marked in a fitting way his 50th cap.

A goal down so soon left Mali with only one option, and it wasn’t to defend, yet Drogba and his men were in dominant mode and almost had a second on 18 minutes only for Zoro to miscue his header into an open goal. Down at the other end Fredi Kanoute only narrowly failed to get his head to a well-targeted 30-yard free kick as Mali went for the all-important equalizer.

Mali’s Adama Tamboura then picked up a yellow card for a heavy tackle on Drogba, who is only now coming back to full match fitness after his December knee surgery.

Mali coach Jean-Francois Jolar curiously took off Kanoute for the second half, replacing the Sevilla striker with Sissoko, a midfielder. Any notion these regional mates might help each other out were dispelled when the Ivorians went further ahead in the 53rd minute, Benfica defender Zoro heading in Kader Keita’s corner from the left.

On the hour Jolar replaced Toure with Mahamadou Dissa as he attempted to strengthen his attacking options.

Mali went close to pulling one back when Seydou Keita floated the ball into the area only for Dramane Traore’s angled header to hit the crossbar.