PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Jan 21 (Reuters) – Misfiring Zambia begin the defence of the African Nations Cup title against Ethiopia and a new-look Nigeria face Burkino Faso in Group C in Nelspruit’s Mbombela Stadium on Monday.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country embarrassingly missed out on the last edition of the Nations Cup and have undergone a controversial overhaul under new coach Stephen Keshi.

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (Reuters) – Seydou Keita proved to be the talisman for Mali again with a late winner as they emerged the first victors at the African Nations Cup finals, beating Niger 1-0 in Group B on Sunday.

The captain took advantage of a slip by Niger’s goalkeeper Daouda Kassaly, who spilled a cross from Fousseiny Diawara right at Keita’s feet and he swept it into the net in the 84th minute at Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Jan 20 (Reuters) – Seydou Keita proved to be the talisman for Mali again with a late winner as they emerged the first victors at the African Nations Cup finals, beating Niger 1-0 in Group B on Sunday.

The captain took advantage of a slip by Niger’s goalkeeper Daouda Kassaly, who spilled a cross from Fousseiny Diawara right at Keita’s feet and he swept it into the net in the 84th minute at Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (Reuters) – The Democratic Republic of Congo conjured up a second half comeback to draw 2-2 with strong contenders Ghana on Sunday as the African Nations Cup came to life on its second day.

Three goals in the second half in Port Elizabeth saw Ghana first extend their half-time lead before allowing DR Congo to fight their way back and then come within inches of snatching a dramatic late win.

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Jan 20 (Reuters) – The Democratic Republic of Congo conjured up a second half comeback to draw 2-2 with strong contenders Ghana on Sunday as the African Nations Cup came to life on its second day.

Three goals in the second half in Port Elizabeth saw Ghana first extend their half-time lead before allowing DR Congo to fight their way back and then come within inches of snatching a dramatic late win.

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Jan 20 (Reuters) – Democratic Republic of Congo recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with title favourites Ghana as the African Nations Cup burst into life on Sunday after two goalless draws on Saturday’s rain-sodden opening day.

Ghana scored the first goal of the competition in the Group B game at the sun-drenched Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium when Emmanuel Agyemang Badu stabbed home from close range after a superb run and return pass from surging left-back Kwadwo Asamoah.

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 20 (Reuters) – Morocco need to begin to deliver on their enormous potential, said striker Mounir El Hamdaoui after the team flattered to deceive again at the start of the African Nations Cup in South Africa.

“We really want to achieve something with this team because we have some really good players. It’s really important we now work towards winning the next game if we are do well in the competition,” said the 28-year-old Dutch-born forward after his side held off a late Angolan onslaught to come away with a point from their opening game in Johannesburg on Saturday.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Nigeria, who embark on a new chapter as they seek to return to past glories at the African Nations Cup, are starting a five-year project which will culminate at the 2018 World Cup, coach Stephen Keshi said.

“This is a team that is in a process to become better over the next five years,” Keshi told reporters ahead of his team’s first match at the tournament on Monday.

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 20 (Reuters) – Nigeria, who embark on a new chapter as they seek to return to past glories at the African Nations Cup, are starting a five-year project which will culminate at the 2018 World Cup, coach Stephen Keshi said.

“This is a team that is in a process to become better over the next five years,” Keshi told reporters ahead of his team’s first match at the tournament on Monday.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Ghana will get a chance to live up to their status as favourites for the African Nations Cup when they open their campaign against a beleaguered Democratic Republic of Congo in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

The match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium marks the start of the Group B campaign, after which Mali will take on Niger in the second game of the day.