Niger and Democractic Republic of Congo battled to a goaless stalemate in an evenly-fought Group B match on Thursday which did neither team any favours in their request to reach the quaterfinals of the African Nations Cup.
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Although Niger secured their first ever point in the finals after losing all three games in 2012 and their opening match here, the result at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium left Ghana top after two matches with four points, followed by Mali (3), DR Congo (2) and Niger (1).
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Niger should have taken the lead after four minutes when Modibo Sidibe was put through with only goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba to beat but he missed his chance by firing his angled shot against the base of Kidiaba's far post.
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Ghana face Niger in their final group game in Port Elizabeth on Monday while the Congolese battle Mali in Durban.