Nigeria closed in on its first title in nearly two decades by easily advancing to the final of the African Cup of Nations on Wednesday, setting up a matchup with a surprising Burkina Faso team looking to lift the trophy for the first time.

Nigeria cruised to a 4-1 victory over Mali in Durban to reach the final for the first time in more than a decade, while Burkina Faso needed extra time and a penalty shootout to get past favorite Ghana in Nelspruit.

Now that he finally has a competitive match under his belt after seven months on the sidelines, Rafael Nadal wants to stop talking about his injured left knee.

Nadal, whose knee problem has lingered despite on-going therapy, marked his return to the tour with a doubles victory Tuesday alongside Juan Monaco at a little-known clay court tournament in Chile.

Lindsey Vonn will head home for surgery next week in Colorado after tearing ligaments in her right knee and breaking a bone in her lower leg in a crash at the world ski championships.

U.S. Ski Team physician William Sterett was with Vonn on the snow after the crash on Tuesday, then at a local hospital where she was airlifted to.

Russian-owned Formula One team Marussia will have an all-rookie lineup this season after announcing that Brazilian Luiz Razia will join fellow British GP2 star Max Chilton on the grid for 2013.

The announcement Tuesday during preseason testing comes after Timo Glock left the team in January.

The Los Angeles Lakers overcame the absences of Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace, and the loss of Pau Gasol to beat the Brooklyn Nets 92-83 on Tuesday.

Kobe Bryant had 21 points and eight rebounds, while Antawn Jamison, starting for the suspended World Peace, made the go-ahead basket during a closing 14-3 run for the Lakers, who have won three straight and six of their last seven games.

Emirates airlines announced a five-year sponsorship deal with Formula One valued at $180 million on Tuesday in the latest sign of the growing influence of the oil-rich, Gulf nations on the sport.

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone said the Dubai-based airline's sponsorship deal includes 15 races this season starting in Malaysia.

The energy provider and management of New Orleans' Superdome stadium worked to determine what caused a 34-minute power outage that shut down the biggest event in American sports, as local officials hoped the incident wouldn't leave a black mark on the city or prevent the National Football League's championship game from coming back to town.

The blackout was an embarrassment for New Orleans, which was hosting its first Super Bowl since 2002 and was eager to show off how it has been rebuilt since Hurricane Katrina.

Rafael Nadal's ailing left knee may continue to bother him until the end of the month, his coach said Monday.

Nadal practiced for 90 minutes with Nicolas Massu of Chile on Monday, his fourth straight day of training since arriving in the country for his first match in more than seven months.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has been voted the Czech Republic's player of the year for 2012.

The 30-year-old Czech international won Monday's poll of players, coaches, football federation officials and journalists for the fifth consecutive year and record sixth time overall.

Lionel Messi extended his record streak by scoring in his 12th consecutive Spanish league game to give leader Barcelona a 1-1 draw at Valencia on Sunday, while Atletico Madrid remained perfect at home through 20 games in all competitions.

Midfielder Ever Banega struck first for Valencia in the 33rd, only for Messi to level for the visitors from the penalty spot six minutes later.