Mali beat Niger in Africa Cup

Veteran midfielder Seydou Keita punished an error six minutes from time to give Mali a hard-earned 1-0 win over outsiders Niger Sunday in a drab Africa Cup of Nations Group B game.

Keita struck when goalkeeper Daouda Kassaly dropped a cross and the victory lifted the Eagles to the top of the table after the Democratic Republic of Congo surprisingly held Ghana to a 2-2 draw in the first part of a double header.