DURBAN, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Paul Put hopes to emerge from the shadow of a match-fixing scandal by leading Burkina Faso to the semi-finals of the African Nations Cup on Sunday.

Put is banned in his native Belgium for his role in fixing matches and has been forced to continue his career in Africa, where he has guided unfancied Burkina Faso to the knockout stage of the tournament in South Africa.

DURBAN (Reuters) – South Africa will receive all the home support for Saturday’s African Nations Cup quarter-final against Mali while the international spotlight will be firmly focused on tiny Cape Verde Islands.

The islanders take on Ghana in the day’s other match at the start of the knockout phase of the tournament.

DURBAN, Feb 2 (Reuters) – South Africa will receive all the home support for Saturday’s African Nations Cup quarter-final against Mali while the international spotlight will be firmly focused on tiny Cape Verde Islands.

The islanders take on Ghana in the day’s other match at the start of the knockout phase of the tournament.

DURBAN, South Africa, Feb 1 (Reuters) – South Africa coach Gordon Igesund promised they will show more steel in Saturday’s African Nations Cup quarter-final against Mali after the nervous hosts scraped through the group phase.

They were almost knocked out of the tournament before an 86th minute equaliser by defender Siyabonga Sangweni in their final group game against Morocco saw them sneak through.

DURBAN, South Africa (Reuters) – Mali will have their penalty saving hero Soumbeyla Diakite back in goal for their African Nations Cup quarter-final against South Africa on Saturday in a change enforced by suspension.

Diakite returns to goal a year after his saves helped Mali beat co-hosts Gabon on penalties at the same stage of the last Nations Cup.

DURBAN, South Africa, Feb 1 (Reuters) – Mali will have their penalty saving hero Soumbeyla Diakite back in goal for their African Nations Cup quarter-final against South Africa on Saturday in a change enforced by suspension.

Diakite returns to goal a year after his saves helped Mali beat co-hosts Gabon on penalties at the same stage of the last Nations Cup.

NELSPRUIT, South Africa (Reuters) – Togo have confounded conventional wisdom by reaching the last eight at the African Nations Cup despite chaotic preparations for the tournament.

The small west African country will meet Burkina Faso on Sunday having made it past the group phase for the first time in eight attempts.

NELSPRUIT, South Africa, Jan 31 (Reuters) – Togo have confounded conventional wisdom by reaching the last eight at the African Nations Cup despite chaotic preparations for the tournament.

The small west African country will meet Burkina Faso on Sunday having made it past the group phase for the first time in eight attempts.

NELSPRUIT, South Africa (Reuters) – Ivory Coast have emerged as clear favourites as the African Nations Cup enters its knockout stages but if past finals are anything to go by, the tournament remains ripe for more surprises.

Following 12 days of intense action across South Africa, half of the 16-team field – including defending champions Zambia – have been eliminated as the event’s recent tradition of unpredictability has continued.

NELSPRUIT, South Africa (Reuters) – Ivory Coast have emerged as clear favourites as the African Nations Cup enters its knockout stages but if past finals are anything to go by, the tournament remains ripe for more surprises.

Following 12 days of intense action across South Africa, half of the 16-team field – including defending champions Zambia – have been eliminated as the event’s recent tradition of unpredictability has continued.