North African teams disappoint again

RUSTENBURG, South Africa (AP) -North African teams struggled for the second straight time at the African Cup of Nations, this time failing to advance past the group stage as western teams continued their dominance.

Western African teams earned seven of the eight quarterfinal spots, with host South Africa the only outsider in the second round this weekend.

The North Africans also had difficulties a year ago in the tournament played in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, with Tunisia the only team to reach the quarterfinals then.

Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi says it's a "surprise'' that no North African team was able to advance this time.