Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Benin at Essipong stadium, Sekondi has secured their hopes to get through from Africa Cup of Nations group B thanks to Ivory Coast who beats Mali 3-0.

Both Mali and Nigeria have four points after playing all three group games, but Nigeria gets through to the quarter finals in goal difference.

Mali scores 1 goal from their win against Benin and conceded 3 goals today. Mali’s game against Nigeria ended with a goalles draw.

Meanwhile, Nigeria with four points after the win today has scored 2 and conceded 1, so they have +1 goal difference. Nigeria’s goals came from John Obi Mikel and Yakubu.

Tomorrow, Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye have their own life and death match against South Africa.

Sam Allardyce will have a Deal-Or-No-Deal situation who will be more tough and difficult than what he have been through with Newcastle six games without win.

Times Online reveals He is pressing for the introduction of a two-week winter break for the Barclays Premier League to minimise the disruption caused by the African Cup of Nations. Four Newcastle United players are likely to participate in the tournament next month - two of them scored in last weekend’s crucial 2-1 victory over Birmingham City - and few clubs will be unaffected.

The African biennial competition, held in Ghana in January and February, has been in existence since 1957. These days, considering the amount of African players who play for the English Premier League is a relatively new phenomenon. Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Obafemi Martins, Kolo Touré, Emmanuel Eboué and Yakubu Ayegbeni are among about 40 players who could be absent.

“Losing players in January is going to be a big problem for me and everyone else in the Premier League,” Allardyce said. “Manchester United are a rare exception and are alone among the “big four” clubs in having no exposure at the tournament.”

Newcastle is set to lose the services of Martins, Abdoulaye Faye, Habib Beye and Gérémi during the African Cup. Nigerian Oba Martins is going to pack earlier than his fellow United African players because his country is invoking the two-week rule, which allows them to call-up their players 14 days earlier.

Big Sam said despite will be loosing numbers of his first team player, he didn’t see the reason to panic. He knows that United board through chairman Chris Mort has told about no transfer fee for him in January. Sam Allardyce will not going out the market to buy new players but will be looking for some trialists.

He also will have some senior squad members returning from their injury. Damien Duff is scheduled to have reserves game before involve again in United first team. Michael Owen is targeting Derby County visit to St. James’ as his come back day. Shola Ameobi and Claudio Cacapa are also scheduled to feature in a training-ground match this week.