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Al-Ahram Weekly 16 - 22 March 2000 Issue No. 473 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 16 - 22 March 2000 Issue No. 473
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Special Focus Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Down and almost out
Nashwa Abdel-Tawab
Wasting a golden opportunity to move ahead in their group, Egypt was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Morocco as the once clear view of Sydney blurred overnight.
Egypt's Tarek El-Said (right) tries to penetrate Morocco's defence
photo: Salah Ibrahim
With five matches played and one more remaining in African Group C Sydney Olympic qualifiers, Morocco now tops the group with 10 points, Cote d'Ivoire and Egypt are tied with eight each and Tunisia way behind with one point and out of the running. Cote d'Ivoire's goal average is three better than Egypt's.
At Cairo Stadium, 50,000 spectators were treated to an entertaining night with wide open space created on both ends of the pitch. Egypt held sway for most of the 90 minutes and certainly had more numerable scoring opportunities. But outstanding and promising goalkeeper Tarek Al-Garmouni and his five-man defence kept Egypt's strikers at bay, save for a goal by substitute Mohamed Farouk following a goal-mouth scramble 15 minutes from time. Morocco had opened the scoring in the 23rd minute as Boshoaib Lombarki weaved into the penalty area and let fly with a left-footed drive.
The Moroccans' penchant for wasting time by feigning injury was evident as was the Egyptian trend of missing several valuable chances to score.
The draw left Egypt in an unenviable position. To finish atop the group and qualify for Sydney, the Egyptians will have to beat Tunisia at least 2-0 in an away encounter. A Moroccan win over Cote d'Ivoire ensures the North Africans a ticket to Australia. The guessing game will come to a head on 26 March when Cote d'Ivoire meets Morocco in Morocco and Tunisia hosts Egypt.
There still might be hope even if Egypt finishes second. While the winners of the three African groups will qualify, the best runner-up will play off against the winner of the Oceania group tournament.
