ACTUALITE |
27.01.2002
Dramatic victory takes Senegal into quarter-finals
BAMAKO
Senegal became the second country after Cameroon to reach the African Nations Cup quarter-finals with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Zambia in a Group D match Saturday.
The winner came in the final minute of normal time as one substitute, Makhtar Ndiaye, crossed and another, Souleymane Camara, rose to head the ball past slow-reacting Zambia goalkeeper and captain Davies Phiri.
With a maximum six points after two mini-league matches in the toughest of the four first-round groups, the Teranga Lions of Senegal are assured of a place in the knockout phase either as pool winners or runners-up.
Egypt have three points and Tunisia and Zambia one each, and the battle for the second qualifying place remains open with the Pharaohs best placed to accompany the west Africans into the second phase of the biennial event.
The result was cruel to Zambia, who shook off an illness crisis affecting 20 out of 22 players to defend bravely and create more scoring chances than their much-vaunted opponents.
Senegal star Al-Hadji Diouf - nicknamed the `Serial Killer` because of his deadly finishing - had a frustrating evening at the Modibo Keita Stadium in the Malian capital.
He was superbly marked by veteran defender Elijah Tana and, when not moaning to Libyan referee Abdelhakim Shelmani, was complaining to his team-mates.
Diouf, who plays for French club Lens, cut a sad figure and should have been cautioned with 17 minutes left as he dived inside the penalty area after losing control of the ball when confronted with two Zambians.
A combination of bad luck, tame finishing and some brave goalkeeping by Tony Sylva foiled Zambia, who must defeat Egypt at the same venue Thursday to have a chance of remaining in a competition they have never won.
Senegal tackle Tunisia in the north-west town of Kayes in a battle of 2002 World Cup qualifiers, and the Lions will be anxious to top the group and dodge a last-eight showdown with defending champions Cameroon.
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