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Senegal joins Egypt in quarterfinals
Posted: Tuesday February 01, 2000 03:28 PM
ACCRA, Ghana (AP) -- Senegal held out for a 2-2 draw against Zambia on Tuesday to qualify for the quarterfinals of the African Nations Cup as rival Burkina Faso let a two-goal lead slip in a 4-2 defeat to Group C leader Egypt. Defending champion Egypt ends the group with nine points from three matches and as group winner stays in Kano for the quarterfinals. Senegal, which plays the winner of Group D in Lagos, claims the runner-up spot with four points, ahead of Zambia on two points and Burkina Faso with one point. In Lagos, Zambia twice came from behind against Senegal, but left its comeback too late to snatch a win that would have preserved its own qualification hopes. Henri Camara gave Senegal the lead two minutes into the second half. Zambian goalkeeper Emmanuel Misichili got a hand to Mbaye Bedji's swirling 20-yard shot, but the ball fell kindly to Camara, who fired in to spark wild celebrations among the Senegalese players and fans. Senegal's joy was short-lived. In the 51st minute, Zambian defender Laughter Chilembi stormed into the Senegalese penalty area and bravely dived between two opponents to lob goalkeeper Omar Diallo. Eight minutes from theend, Salif Keita pounced to give Senegal a 2-1 lead. But Zambia equalized again in the 85th minute, when Bwalya Kalugha scored a penalty after Papa Diop had handled Kiambe Rotson's shot. Zambia needed to beat Senegal to have any chance of qualifying and was unlucky not to get an early breakthrough when Andrews Tembo smashed the crossbar with a sharp 12th-minute shot. In Kano, Burkina Faso, looking to avenge a 2-0 defeat to Egypt in the semifinals of the 1998 African Nations Cup, led 2-1 at the break. Ismael Koudou and Ousmane Sanou scored within 20 minutes, before Ahmed Salah replied for the defending champion. Egypt, which was assured of a quarterfinal place before play, equalized with a 72nd-minute Hossam Hassan penalty, and grabbed a win with goals in the last five minutes through Hani Ramzi and Aly Abdel. In Wednesday's Group B matches, South Africa, which is already assured of a place in the next round, faces Algeria in Kumasi, while Congo faces Gabon in Accra. Algeria, on four points, needs a draw to be sure of joining Bafana Bafana in the last eight, while a win would see the North Africans top the group. But South Africa is determined to finish above Algeria. The Group B winner stays in Kumasi to face Ghana, with the runner-up facing a tougher-looking match against Cameroon in Accra. South Africa's assistant coach Styles Phumo warned against the threat from Algeria. "If we lose we have to travel to Accra for the quarterfinal and that can be disorientating," Phumo said. "Algeria are very physical and robust in defense, and extremely quick to latch onto opportunities up front."
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