ACTUALITE |
01.02.2002
Egypt, Senegal advance in Nations Cup
BAMAKO - Egypt reached the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup with a 2-1 victory over Zambia on Thursday as World Cup qualifiers Tunisia crashed out after only drawing with Senegal.
The Egyptians clinched Group D`s runners-up spot behind Senegal thanks to goals in each half from Ajax Amsterdam centre-forward Ahmed Hossam and midfielder Hazem Emam against Zambia.
But it was a disappointing afternoon for Egypt`s bitter north African rivals Tunisia, who saw their miserable campaign brought to an end by a 0-0 draw against what amounted to Senegal`s reserve team.
Thursday`s results mean Senegal will now play the Democratic Republic of Congo in next Monday`s quarter-finals, with 1998 winners Egypt facing a last-eight tussle with reigning champions Cameroon.
"We did what was necessary and stayed top of our group," said Senegal`s French coach Bruno Metsu, who said his players were adversely affected by the stifling heat.
Tunisia`s dire form in front of goal was again in evidence and a litany of missed chances included a fluffed penalty kick by Slim Benachour, whose early second-half attempt was pushed away by Oumar Diallo.
Needing a win to have any chance of survival, Tunisia failed again soon after with three goal-bound shots blocked by the Senegal `keeper in a frantic penalty-area scramble.
Frenchman Henri Michel, who took charge of Tunisia only two months ago, slammed his team ahead of the match, saying they were mentally, physically, tactically and technically lacking.
If his comments were meant to lift the Carthage Eagles, the ploy failed and the future of Michel must be in doubt with sections of the Tunisian media already calling for his dismissal.
Meanwhile Egypt coach Mahmoud Al-Gohari, who is also expected to be replaced at the end of this tournament, was a satisfied man after his team secured their passage into the knockout phase.
"We played intelligently and in our own style," the former army colonel said. "We knew beforehand that Zambia could create a surprise, so that`s why we decided to play an attacking game and put pressure on them.
Zambia coach Roald Poulsen said the reasons for his side`s problems were identical to Tunisia`s - a chronic inability to take advantage of scoring opportunities.
"It was the same story as we`ve had throughout the tournament - we were creating opportunities but we were not executing, failing to score the goal," the experienced Dane told reporters.
"We had to score the goal in the first half, but we didn`t get the luck and maybe we have to blame ourselves. The game could have been different if we`d scored the first goal.
"We have a slight problem with scoring - and in a tournament like this when you get that many chances you have to score."
Egypt opened the scoring on 35 minutes when a lovely ball from Emam split the Zambian defence wide open to send striker Hossam through on the opposition goal.
Zambia `keeper Phiri Davies was a fraction too slow advancing, and Hossam toe-poked past him neatly before coolly stroking the ball home from a tight angle.
Emam put Egupt 2-0 up eight minutes after halftime, capitalising on some sloppy opposition defence before rounding Davies and shooting past the back-pedalling Zambian cover.
Zambia pulled one back when Gift Kampamba got a decisive touch on Elijah Tana`s bullet-like low free kick from the left.
They should have levelled on 89 minutes when another Tana free kick rocketed into the Egyptian wall. In the ensuing melee, the ball fell invitingly to an unmarked Harry Milanzi inside the six-yard box.
But somehow the second half substitute shanked his shot wide of the post to the disbelief of his team-mates, summing up a disappointing afternoon for Zambia.
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