War-torn Mali distraught after loss

[Folami David]

Cries of dissappointment erupted in Bamako on Wednesday as Nigeria thrashed Mali, dashing hopes of a football win to lighten the mood of a nation entangled in a bitter war against religious extremists.
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'' Ah, poor Mali! '', moaned supporters glued to small television screensin a Bamako marketplace, as the embattled west African nation fell out of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with a 4-1 loss to Nigeria.
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'' A semifinal victory could have distracted us a little bit from this war '', said an agitated Diakari Dia, 21, ralling against 'players who don't play and just fall over the place and a French coach who doesn't know what to do'.
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'' After the first goal, It was morose. After the second, one felt Mali could still catch up. With the third goal, half of my clients got up and left. By the fourth, only the most faithful remained '', said Ibarahim Tounkara, 52.