Atlas Lions roar

Zarouali fires Morocco to win over Burkina Faso

SEGOU, Mali (AP) -- Hicham Zarouali scored twice as Morocco's Atlas Lions beat feisty Burkina Faso 2-1 on Saturday in the African Cup of Nations.

The Aberdeen player opened in the first half and netted the winner five minutes from full time, while forward Moumouni Dagono scored for the Stallions.

After the first-round game, Morocco led Group B with four points while Burkina Faso sat last on one point. South Africa and Ghana have two points each.

The Lions dominated play for much of the first period while Burkina Faso lacked the grit it displayed against South Africa's much-touted team last Sunday.

Coventry midfielder Youssef Chippo shot just wide of the Stallions' goal for Morocco's first attempt and Lille forward Salaheddine Bassir chipped high over the crossbar.

Zarouali capitalized on confusion in the Stallions' area to slot the ball home in the 23rd minute for the first Group B goal of the competition.

Burkina Faso was slow to react, only pressuring goalkeeper Driss Benzekri at the very end of the first period.

But the Stallions held their momentum after the break and were rewarded when Dagono headed in a free kick taken from the edge of the area by Bareo Oumar.

Benzekri made back-to-back saves against two Stallions forwards before Zarouali scored the second Moroccan goal, heading in a corner shot in the 85th minute.

Morocco, which was narrowly beaten by Senegal for a place in the World Cup, is seeking its first continental title since 1976.

It was missing Fulham player Abdeslam Ouaddou, who was expelled from the squad last week. Team officials refused to comment on his departure but a statement by the Confederation of African Football said it was because of "indiscipline."

Score Summary

Scorers:
Burkina Faso - Moumouni Dagano 58
Morocco - Hichem Zerouali, 23, 85
Halftime: 0-1; Attendance: 6,000

Teams:
Burkina Faso: 22-Mohamed Kabore, 2-Lamine Traore, 3-Brahima Cisse (20-Boureima Ouattara 67), 4-Mamadou Tall, 5-Madou Dossama, 12-Soumailia Tassembedo, 6-Saidou Mady Panandetiguiri, 10-Ali Ouedraogo (17-Narcisse Yameogo 54), 11-Wilfred Sanou (7-Alassane Ouedraogo 72), 9-Oumar Barro, 19-Moumouni Dagano

Morocco: 22-Driss Benzerki, 3-Akram Roumani, 5-Abdelilah Fahmi, 6-Nouredine Naybet, 17-Gharib Amzine (8-Faouzi El Brazi 32), 12-Nourdin Boukhari (7-Rabii Lafoui 74), 15-Youssef Safri (Rachid Benmahmoud 66), 18-Youssef Chippo, 10-Adil Ramzi, 11-Hichem Zerouali, 14-Salaheddine Bassir

Referee: Lim Kee Chong (Mauritius)

Togo goalie Agassa in form in 0-0 draw

The tie meant three sides -- Congo, Togo and Ivory Coast - are still in the running for the second Group C spot in the quarterfinals, while Cameroon is certain of finishing as group leader.

The game at Sikasso, east of the capital Bamako, featured plenty of end-to-end play but few clear goal chances, although Congo's forwards held the edge throughout.

Striker Marcel Mbayo ripped an early shot at the Togolese goal from the edge of the area, but Agassa pushed the ball out. Teammate Jason Mayele's attempt flew wide in the 42nd minute.

Agassa caught another powerful strike from Mbayo in the 53rd minute, then stopped a curling free kick taken by Mayele. He made yet another save in the 62nd minute, this time against midfielder Boeka Lisasi.

Substitute Thomas Dossevi sent a header wide of the Congolese goal in the 74th minute for one of Togo's best chances.

Miowedeka Noutsoudje nearly made up for the miss but his close-range shot was blocked by Congo goalie N'Kombe Tokala, who slid into a seated position to stop the ball between his legs.

After the game, Cameroon led Group C with six points. Togo sat second on two points while Ivory Coast and Congo had a point each.

Congo was missing its star player, Monaco striker Shabani Nonda. He quit the African Cup last week because of ill health.

Sikasso's 15,000-seat Babemba Traore stadium was about half full.

Score Summary

Teams:
DR Congo: 12-Paulin Tokala; 13-Dikilu Bageta, 5-Bakasu Essele, 20-Felix Muamba; 11-Papy Kimoto, 6-Jason Mayele, 3-Mundaba Kisombe, 8-Kapela Mbiyavanga (21-Alexis Tekumu, 53), 19-Marcel Mbayo (16-Kifu Apataki, 59); 9-Lomana Tresor Lua-Lua, 14-Jean-Paul Boeka Lisasi (7-Pathy Nsele Esengo, 66)

Togo: 16-Kossi Agassa; 12-Eric Akoto, 4-Dosseh Yaouvi Abalo, 14-Koffi Olympio, 21-Zanzan Atte-Odeyi; 8-Lantame Ouadja, 13-Komlan Assignon, 9-Kossi Noutsoudje, 3-Yao Senaya; 20-Djima Oyawole (17-Abdelkader Coubadja, 52), 11-Michel Dogbe (7-Thomas Dossevi, 64, 10-Adekambi Olufade, 85)

Senegal beats Zambia 1-0 to reach African Cup quarters

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) -- Souleymane Camara scored a late winner on Saturday to give Senegal a 1-0 victory over Zambia and a spot in the African Cup of Nations quarterfinals.

The Monaco striker headed in a beautiful cross from Makhtar Ndiaye, who plays for fellow French first-division side Rennes, sealing the victory in the 89th minute.

With the win, the Lions lead Group D with six points and are guaranteed a spot in the second round. Egypt sits second with three points while Zambia and Tunisia are tied for last place with a point each.

Senegal is one of five African teams headed to the World Cup in South Korea and Japan and is regarded by many as a title favorite in Mali. But for most of Saturday's match it struggled to keep pace with an aggressive Zambian side.

Gift Kampamba and Harry Milanzi threatened the Senegalese goal but were hindered by poor finishing and goalkeeper Tony Sylva.

However, Sylva came close to making a huge blunder when he saved a shot from Kampamba, then dropped the ball. He collected just as Milanzi was about to take aim.

The Senegalese goalkeeper denied Milanzi again in the 66th minute, catching a neat chip shot.

Senegal increased pressure in the last 15 minutes and Ndiaye had an incredible miss when he headed the ball over the crossbar standing 1 meter (yard) from the goal.

He compensated by supplying Camara with a clean pass deep into the Zambian area, which the forward converted with a minute to spare.

Senegal plays its last match of the first round against Tunisia in the western town of Kayes, near the Senegalese border.

Cameroon, the titleholder, is the only other team to have reached the quarterfinals so far.

Score Summary

Scorers:
Senegal: Souleymane Camara 90
Halftime: 0-0; Attendance: 12,000

Teams:
Senegal: 1-Tony Sylva; 3-Pape Sarr, 6-Aliou Cisse, 17-Ferdinand Coly, 13-Lamine Diatta, 5-Alassane Ndour, 15-Alassani Diao, 7-Henri Camara (9-Souleymane Camara 79), 10-Fadiga Khalilou (22-Makhtar Ndiaye 46), 11-El Hadj Ousseynou Diof, 18-Pape Bouna Thiaw, (20-Sylvain Ndiaye 46)

Zambia: 1-Davies Phiri; 21-Hillary Makasa, 4-Moses Sichone, 5-Elijah Tana, 7-Mark Sinyangwe, 13-Numba Mumamba (2-Laughter Chilembe 79), 15-Ian Bakala (18-Nsofwa Chaswe 75), 17-Gift Kampamba, 8-Charles Lota, 19-Andrew Sinkala, 11-Harry Milanza (9-Cosmas Banda 89)

Referee: Abdulhakim Shelmani (Libya)

 

Related information
Stories
African Nations Cup 2002 Index
Multimedia
Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.