STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Nigeria into semifinals of Africa Cup of Nations after beating Ivory Coast 2-1 on Sunday
- Late goal from Sunday Mba puts "Super Eagles" into a last-four clash with Mali
- Ivorians had been favored with star players such as Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure
- Burkina Faso beat Togo 1-0 after extra time in last quarterfinal at Nelspruit
(CNN) -- Another Africa Cup of Nations, another failure for the Ivory Coast's "golden generation."
But while Didier Drogba may never get the chance to lift the continent's coveted trophy, another African football superpower is on course to end its own long wait for success.
Nigeria set up a semifinal clash with Mali by beating the seemingly perennial tournament-favorite Ivorians 2-1 in Rustenburg on Sunday.
The "Super Eagles" have not won the title since 1994, a year the team reached fifth in the world rankings -- the highest by any African nation.
Since then Nigeria has had to settle for three third placings between 2002-10, and didn't even qualify for last year's tournament.
Read: FIFA probes player with 'four birthdays' (http://www.theinfostride.com/'/2013/02/01/sport/football/age-african-football-mbemba/index.html')
(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/mosaic/bttn_close.gif) Substitute Didier Drogba (left) celebrates with Yaya Toure after the midfielder put the Ivory Coast 2-0 ahead near the end of the Africa Cup of Nations Group D match against Tunisia in Rustenburg. Former Chelsea star Drogba had been dropped from the starting line-up for the first time in his international career, having been taken off during his country's opening match after failing to impress. Manchester City star Toure, the two-time African player of the year, netted his second goal of the tournament in the 88th minute. Another substitute, Didier Ya Konan (No. 13) sealed the Ivorians' second successive win with the third goal at Royal Bafokeng Stadium. Striker Gervinho, who plays for English club Arsenal, scored the opening goal in the 21st minute. He also netted a late winner in the opening match against Togo. Emmanuel Adebayor helped Togo bounce back from that 2-1 defeat as the Sparrowhawks' captain scored in a 2-0 win against Algeria which put the Ivorians into the quarterfinals and eliminated the north Africans with one match still to play.
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Via: CNN Edition