Egypt assistant coach Chaouki Gharib said: “We’ve played against three World Cup qualifiers in our five matches here, we’ve beaten them all and scored ten goals against all of them.

“It’s thanks to our strategy, we know how to win games and how to deal with our rivals. We wish Algeria well at the World Cup because they are representing the Arab world.”

Egypt’s goals against their bitter rivals came from Hosni Abdrabou, who converted a penalty, Mohamed Zidan, substitutes Mohamed Abdelshafy and Mohamed ‘Gedo’ Nagy.

Indisciplined Algeria saw red three times.

First defender Rafik Halliche was sent packing for bringing down a goal-bound Emad Motaeb whch led to the spot-kick in the 39th minute.

Then in the second half Nadir Belhadj became the second Algerian player to walk off in disgrace after a two-footed tackle on Ahmedd Al-Muhammadi.

In the 86th minute a torrid night for Algeria got worse when goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi was sent off after he attempted to maliciously tackle Nagy.

Algeria coach Rabah Saadane attacked Benin referee Koffi Codjia for Halliche’s red card.

He said: “The referee sent off our best defender, it was free fall after that. You have to look at the reality, it was the referee who turned the game upside down.”

This resounding victory was sweet revenge for Algeria’s win in last November’s acrimonious World Cup play-off which put Saadane’s men on a plane to South Africa and not Egypt.

It also enhanced Egypt’s unbeaten run to 18 games – the last time they lost in the Africa Cup of Nations was six years ago in Tunisia – against Algeria.

Earlier in Luanda Ghana, missing a raft of key injured players including star man Michael Essien, belied their inexperience to down fellow World Cup qualifiers Nigeria 1-0.

Coach Milovan Rajevic’s talented team, who owe their presence in their first final in 18 years to Asamoah Gyan’s first half goal, have done wonderfully well to make it to the climax of this continental competition.

But they have a mountain to climb if they are to get their hands on a fifth title judging by the way Egypt demolished indisciplined Algeria in Benguela.

And only an ardent Ghana fan would bet against them emerging as African champions yet again at Luanda’s 11 November Stadium on Sunday.

Rajevic said “I told my boys we were not going to play beautiful football today, we were going to play for a result.

“Nigeria had a few good chances but my team are very young and sometimes due to inexperience it led them (Nigeria) to create chances.”

Under-fire Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu was asked if he was going to stand down.

He replied: “My contract is until August. If I’m still in charge up to the World Cup I will look at our deficiencies in this competition and look at areas of reinforcement.

“I said before we came here we don’t have the best team but I’m confident we are developing from match to match.

“I don’t think we lost to a better side, we lost to a youthful and enterprising side.”

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

Egypt went into this match hoping to pick up their first victory against Nigeria in 47 years as the Pharaohs began their title defence. The Super Eagles looked determined from the start, making typically tough tackles, but the first chance of the game fell to Egypt, as Mohamed Zidan found himself in front of goal, but his shot was wasted as he hit it over Vincent Enyeama’s goal.

Nigeria were forceful in their play, and in the 11th minute their determination paid off, as Hoffenheim striker Chinedu Obasi turned the ball from his right foot onto his left before unleashing a thunderbolt that Egypt ‘keeper El Hadary could not keep out.

The crowd grew louder with appreciation after the goal, but yet another half full stadium was a disappointing sight considering the players on display. Nigeria had a penalty call turned down, as an Egyptian defender mistakenly stopped a cross with an outswinging hand.

Nigeria used their strength to stop the diminutive Egyptians, and the speed of the Super Eagles down the flanks was something to behold, as a blistering run and cross from Taiwo in the 21st minute found Uche in the box, but the Almeria player blasted over when he should have made it 2-0.

Nigeria seemed to have the upper hand, but Egypt would threaten on the break occasionally, with Zidan causing a few headaches for the big Nigerian defenders, as his silky footwork brought him close to the target and his shot went narrowly wide.

In the 34th minute, Taiwo’s speed created yet another opportunity for the Super Eagles, as he crossed into the centre of the box from the byline, but Uche’s powerful shot went just wide of the post. The resulting goal kick gave Egypt the equaliser they were looking for, as a fine through ball found Emad Meteeb, who dribbled around the onrushing Enyeama before slipping the ball into an empty net.

Both teams created chances in the dying minutes of the first half, but neither took advantage of the situation, and the teams went into the break with the score at 1-1.

Many had expected that narrowly missing out on qualifying for the World Cup in June would spur the Pharaohs to achieve a third consecutive victory in Angola, and they started the second half with that in mind, but Nigeria threatened once more with John Obi Mikel, as the Chelsea player powered his way into the area before a touch too much allowed Egypt to clear.

In the 54th minute, Egypt took the lead for the first time in the game, as good work on the right by Zidan allowed him to set the ball back for Ahmed Hassan in his eighth African Nations Cup competition, and the captain cracked a thunderous strike, which took a deflection off Taiwo, wrong footing the Nigerian ‘keeper as the ball went into the back of the net.

With half an hour to go Egypt nearly made it 3-1, but Meteeb could not make the most of his opportunity in front of goal, as his shot rocketed off the crossbar. Egypt continued to push forward, and a free kick from Zidan demanded a fine save from Enyeama to keep it out.

Nigeria tried to make the most of a few shots from distance, but Mikel’s strike in the 68th minute went horribly wide of the Pharaohs’ goal. With 20 minutes remaining and substitutions taking place from both benches, Egypt continued to look the more confident of the two African giants, as Zidan hit yet another long range effort, which skipped wide of the Nigerian goal.

Taiwo responded with a strike of his own, but the powerful shot was straight at El Hadary and the veteran goalkeeper saved without any problems. Few chances were produced in the final ten minutes, as the biggest cheer from the almost full stadium (which was half empty at the start) was for the entrance of legend Nwankwo Kanu from the bench, replacing Mikel for the final part of the game.

Egypt held on well, and Nigeria could not break down the Pharaohs despite some desperate play at the death, but when there seemed to be no more goals in the game Egypt placed the cherry on top of a fine win with a 87th minute goal from substitute Nagy Gedo, scoring his first Nations Cup goal with a strike from just outside the box into the corner of the Nigerian net. Egypt launched a final flurry of attacks, and they almost extended their lead, but after a few minutes of injury time the exciting game ended in favour of the Pharaohs.

Egypt defeat the Super Eagles for the first time in 47 years and they will be expected by their teeming fans to make up for the heartbreak that ensured that Africa’s most successful football nation missed out on the biggest football event to be hosted on the continent by bringing home the title as a consolation prize.

Nigeria on the other hand will have disappointed their passionate fans once again, falling to the Pharaohs after going ahead early on.

Source: goal.com

Pic: supersport.co.za

Egypt

Mohamed Homos was their hero with his 40th minute header enough to hand them a famous victory in front of 51,000 fans, but they also had goalkeeper Essam al-Hadary to thank for pulling off a string of fine saves.

Egypt and Italy are now level on three points in Group B with the Pharoahs favourites to go through to the semi-finals.

They face the United States on Sunday while Italy must play Brazil, who have two wins out of two so far.

Egypt coach Hassan Shehata said before the game that African pride was at stake and his team was bubbling with confidence after pushing Brazil hard in their gallant 4-3 defeat on Monday.

The African Nations Cup champions’ made one change from that match and it was an inspired move, with Homos replacing 35-year-old captain Ahmed Hassan, the country’s most capped player.

Marcello Lippi welcomed back his captain Fabio Cannavaro, who missed their 3-1 win over the United States with a calf strain, as Nicolas Legrottaglie made way for the Real Madrid star.

There were two other changes with Fabio Quagliarella in for Mauro Camoranesi while Giuseppe Rossi, their two-goal hero from Monday, replaced Alberto Gilardino.

The game started quietly with AC Milan defender Gianluca Zambrotta having Italy’s first shot on goal after seven minutes, but it was a feeble effort that didn’t trouble El Hadary.

Villarreal’s American-born striker Rossi let rip with a left foot rocket soon after only to see it flash over the bar as Italy pressed the attack.

But Egypt also had their moments, with Mohamed Aboutrika causing problems in the Italian box, going close after 15 minutes in his team’s best chance till then.

It was Italy, though, who looked more likely to score with Juventus man Vincenzo Iaquinta and Rossi both forcing saves from Al-Hadary within the space of a minute midway through the half.

Not to be outdone, Egypt responded with a sustained period of pressure that ended with the goal from Homos who rose to meet a corner from Aboutrika and head the ball past Gianluigi Buffon to rock Italy.

The Italians had also gone one down against the United States and fought back to win, and they began the second half with a sense of urgency.

They should have equalised when Iaquinta found himself unmarked in the box but his control was poor and Al-Hadary scrambled the ball clear.

Lippi brought Luca Toni on and took Rossi off but Italy couldn’t find the breakthrough with Al-Hadary solid as a rock in the Egyptian goal, pulling off save after save to keep his team in front.

Italy had one last chance as the seconds ticked down but AC Milan’s Andrea Pirlo sent his freekick sailing over the bar to end a miserable night for Italy and a memorable one for Egypt.

Source: soccernews.com

Pic: supersport.co.za