The West Africans have dominated a tournament hosted almost diametrically opposite to their geographic location. A winner will emerge from Mali, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Ghana to ensure the trophy moves from Southern to West Africa. There is no surprise in this shift in the balance of power as West African sides have been consistent performers over the years. In the last edition, three sides, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Mali reached the last four as surprise package, Zambia won Southern Africa's only its second title after South Africa 1996). The absence of North African nations in the last four although not entirely unexpected, is growing evidence of a power tilt in continental football.
South Africa represented Southern Africa's remaining hope going into the quarterfinals, but found a tactically superior Mali unyielding on Saturday night at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Bafana Bafana were driven more by zeal, but it was evident that a Seydou Keita inspired Eagles had better quality. Burkina Faso find themselves in the last four, 13 years after achieving a similar feat on home soil.While further upsets cannot be ruled out, a Mali vs Ghana/Nigeria final looks likely.Zambia fashioned out a victory largely bordering on emotions after winning the trophy a few kilometres from where their counterparts were killed in 1993 in a plane crash in Gabon. Of the four remaining sides, Mali might be driven by the situation back home and find themselves as neutrals favourite to lift a title that might as well unite a nation. Keita and his charges want to see their families back home unite irrespective of tribe and winning the AFCON would go a long way in bringing a divided nation together.Mali has the squad and, driven by the desire to land smiles on the faces of a war weary population, can deliver.
