Cameroon fall to Okocha class

A wonderful curling free-kick from Jay-Jay Okocha put Nigeria on course for their 2-1 triumph against holders Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations on Sunday.

Utaka winner
Trailing to a 42nd-minute strike from RCD Mallorca's Samuel Eto'o, Nigeria won a free-kick on the edge of the area seconds before half-time and the Bolton Wanderers FC playmaker, who was inspirational throughout, stepped up to whip the ball into the Cameroon net. John Utaka, the RC Lens striker, scored Nigeria's decisive second goal on 73 minutes, latching on to a pass from Arsenal FC's Nwankwo Kanu to set up a semi-final with host nation Tunisia.

Algeria ousted
In the day's other game, Morocco booked a semi-final date against Mali after overcoming Algeria 3-1 in extra-time, with all four goalscorers hailing from France's Ligue 1. OGC Nice midfield player Abdelmalek Cherrad had put the Algerians ahead in the 84th minute but Marouane Chamakh of FC Girondins de Bordeaux levelled the scores in the fourth minute of added time. Morocco took command in the additional period of play, with goals from SC Bastia's Youssouf Hadji and Jaoud Zairi of FC Sochaux Montbéliard wrapping up the victory.