Zimbabwe, Nigeria through to CHAN semi-finals

Nigeria came perilously close to defeat but grabbed an extra time victory over Morocco while Zimbabwe trounced favourites Mali to book their places in the African Nations Championship semi-finals Saturday.

Aliyu Ibrahim scored the extra time winner which saw the Super Eagles triumph 4-3. The North Africans led 3-0 at half-time at Cape Town Stadium, thanks to a brace from Mohsine Moutaouali in the 33rd and 40th minutes. But four minutes into the second half Ugonna Uzochukwu struck from just outside the area and Rabiu Ali scored a second in the 55th minute. Just as it looked as though Morocco would go through, Ejike Uzoenyi`s shot bounced off the bar and into the net in the 90th minute to send the match into extra time. Zimbabwe`s surprise 2-1 victory over Mali, after they almost failed to reach the quarter-finals, means a face-off against the winners of the match between Gabon and Libya`s match Sunday. In front of a large Zimbabwean crowd, Simbarashe Sithole scored for his southern African side in the 11th minute, and Kudakwashe Mahachi sailed past four defenders 11 minutes into the second half to extend the lead. Mali played a tight match, but Hamidou Sinayoko`s goal a minute from time was not enough. Nigeria will play the winners of the game between Ghana and DR Congo for a place in the final.