bound Nigeria and Algeria will have to dig deep to motivate themselves for Saturday's Africa Cup of Nations losers' final. Nigeria was stopped from reaching the final proper by a youthful Ghana team courtesy of a first-half winner from Asamoah Gyan after the Super Eagles failed to convert a hatful of chances in their semifinal in Luanda Thursday. Algeria, on the other hand, held out against their bitter rival Egypt until just before half time in Benguela when it went behind through a penalty and also lost a defender. Then in the second half it capitulated to let in three more goals and get two other players sent off. This is the second time that Nigeria coach Shuaibu Amodu has failed to reach the Nations Cup final after his team also lost to Senegal in 2002. The Desert Foxes of Algeria will be without at least three top stars – goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi and defenders Rafik Halliche and Nadir Belhadj – after they all saw red against Egypt in Thursday's semifinal. Atletico in semis Diego Forlan fired Atletico Madrid into the King's Cup semifinals Wednesday when his clinical finish sealed a 2-1 aggregate win at second-division struggler Celta Vigo. The Uruguay striker robbed defender Francisco Noguerol in the 26th minute and after sprinting clear lashed a powerful shot into the bottom corner past goalkeeper Yoel Rodriguez. Celta, relegated at the end of the 2006-07 season and 17th out of 22 in the second-tier standings, battled valiantly in front of their vociferous fans and almost snatched an equalizer in the 84th minute. The impressive Roberto Trashorras cut in from the left and Jose Luis Mato headed the midfielder's cross against the bar. Atletico will play Racing Santander in next month's two-legged semifinals after the Cantabrians won 3-0 at Osasuna Wednesday for a 5
