Football: Zambians reach final

ZAMBIA, who lost 19 members of their national squad in a plane crash last April, completed a remarkable recovery when they beat Mali 4-0 in Tunis yesterday to seal a place in Sunday's African Nations' Cup final. The side, rebuilt by Ian Porterfield, will face the favourites, Nigeria, Ivory Coast's conquerors, in the final.

Two mistakes by Mali's keeper, Ousmane Farota, allowed Elija Litana, with a header, and Zeddy Saileti, with a shot, to put Zambia in control by half-time.

PSV Eindhoven's Kalusha Bwalya fired home within seconds of the restart and another defensive error allowed Kenneth Malitoli to complete the rout in the 74th minute.

Nigeria won their shoot-out against Ivory Coast 4-2 after a

2-2 draw, encompassing extra time. Michel Bassole gave the Ivorians a 19th-minute lead but Nigeria were level within seven minutes through Ben Iroha. Bassole's second, driven in from close range, had the Ivorians ahead again after 31 minutes but Rashidi Yekini equalised. Yekini scored the decisive penalty after Bassole and Lambert Yao Amani missed for the holders.

The Ghana players beaten by Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals have been left out of this month's tour of South Africa.