Do it again
Egypt meets Algeria today in a crucial group clash in the African Nations Cup. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab reports
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Mohamed Brakat who substituted Hazem Emam netted Egypt's second goal seconds after stepping into the pitch (top) while Algeria, who plays Egypt today, played to a 1-1 draw with Cameroon
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After Egypt's 2-1 victory over debutantes Zimbabwe on Sunday in the opening game of the African Nations Cup (ANC) in Tunisia, the country will probably need another emphatic result against Algeria today to guarantee a move into the second round.
The win gave Egypt three points to lead Group C. Defending champions Cameroon and Algeria drew 1-1 for a point each.
A win over Algeria today would give Egypt a virtual free pass into the second round but a loss, coupled with a Cameroon win over Zimbabwe in today's other Group C fixture, would put the Pharaohs in an unenviable position.
The North African encounter today is shaded with a long history. Egypt qualified for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1990 World Cup in Italy at Algeria's expense. The Algerians ruled Africa in the early 1980s, beating West Germany in the 1982 World Cup among other achievements.
The 18,000-seater Mhiri Stadium in Sfax, a harbour and Tunisia's second largest city, will witness Zimbabwe take on Cameroon, while Egypt will face Algeria in Sousse.
Four-time champion Egypt came from a goal down to deny Zimbabwe their first win in their first-ever ANC. Sheffield United's Peter Ndlovu headed Zimbabwe into the lead seconds after the break. But Tamer Abdel-Hamid's deflection and Mohamed Barakat's scrambled winner silenced the Warriors' fans.
Egypt's goal count could have been much higher had it not been for the acrobatic efforts of Zimbabwe goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro.
Egypt had the better of the first half as they launched their campaign for an unprecedented fifth ANC title.
Predictably, it was Ahmed "Mido" Hossam who caused the most anxious moments in the Zimbabwe defence. The Warriors were riddled with indecision and it was only the agility of Murambadoro that kept the scoreline blank at the interval.
There was no shortage of thrills in the second half which was barely a minute old when captain Ndlovu put his side ahead. The veteran striker found himself unmarked inside the box and his glancing header left Egyptian goalkeeper Nader El- Sayed a painfully disinterested onlooker.
But that was like a red rag to a bull as the Egyptians responded with equal venom.
The Pharaohs found the sort of form that has left previous opponents reeling. First it was Abdel- Hamid's fortuitous goal from a deflection which drew them level after 57 minutes. Then substitute Barakat put Egypt ahead with a controversial header which came from a goal-mouth scramble. The referee had initially waved the goal away before his linesman forced a reversal of that decision, insisting the ball had crossed the line.
Egypt, which paraded five players from league champions Zamalek in their starting line-up, went immediately into attack in search of an early opener. The North Africans, backed by a noisy travelling band of fans, settled quicker into the game while their opponents were content to sit back in defence and soak up the pressure. Hazem Emam tried to score and create chances in his usual artistic way but was stopped most of the time. Hadi Khashaba, Tarek El-Sayed and Mido narrowly missed target. Ahmed Hassan was Egypt's shining star as his fitness was superb.
In the other Group C match, Patrick Mboma proved he was worth his late call-up, heading Cameroon into the lead against Algeria just before the break in the 44th minute. The former African Footballer of the Year headed home from close range after latching on to a cross from Chelsea's Geremi Njitap. Brahim Zafour equalised early in the second half when he fired home a low shot from a poor clearance. The equaliser was a fitting reward for Algeria's enterprising play.
In Group A, after the spectacular opening ceremony, Brazilian-born Francileudo Dos Santos gave host Tunisia a 2-1 victory in the opening game of the ANC against Rwanda as both sides were reduced to 10 men.
Dos Santos poked home a free kick to put his side ahead after Ziad Jaziri opened the scoring in the first half. Joao Elias drew Rwanda level with a superb curling free kick soon after.
But with both Group A sides down to 10 men in the second half, it was the hosts who made the most of the situation. Jaziri scored the opener in the 27th minute from a quickly taken short free kick tapped in by Paris Saint Germain's Slim Benachour. Jaziri's powerful blast hit the roof of the net from close range. But Tunisia barely had time to celebrate before Elias drew newcomers Rwanda level.
The Belgium-based player stepped up after Eric Nshimiyimana was fouled just outside the box. He sent the resulting free kick curling into the right hand top corner, giving the Tunisian goalkeeper no chance.
Rwanda looked lively as the second half resumed, but with just 11 minutes gone Abdul Sibomana was sent off for a second bookable offence. Dos Santos was quick to capitalise, poking home the resulting free kick which was delivered into the six-yard box by Benachour. But Benachour turned villain just two minutes later receiving his marching orders for diving in the box -- his second bookable offence. Dos Santos, who switched nationalities after a new FIFA ruling, and Jaziri continued to threaten in the closing stages of the match but could not increase the hosts' lead.
In the other Group A match, Guinea came back from a goal down to beat rivals DR Congo. Alain Masudi's volley gave DR Congo the lead before Titi Camara's low drive and Pascal Feindouno's header sent the Guinea fans into rapture. Guinea also came close on several other occasions, with Feindouno's delicate chip the best effort.
Sunday's win by Guinea in the Al-Mensah Stadium was their first ANC victory over DR Congo in three meetings. DR Congo looked the better side in the opening exchanges with Newcastle's Lomana Lua, Lua continually breaking clear of his marker. The Congolese captain had several attempts on goal in the early period but each time failed to put his side ahead.
DR Congo went to the break with the one-goal advantage intact but Guinea fought back in the second.
Midway through the half Fode Mansare was left unmarked on the flank, allowing him to send in a perfectly placed cross for Camara, also unchallenged, to fire low and hard into an empty net.
Guinea were revived. Just 10 minutes later Feindouno scored from a rebound after Souleymane Youla's shot hit the post. Mansare was again the man who delivered the decisive cross.
The goal left Guinea's fans dancing in the stands while a dispirited DR Congo appeared to have nothing left in the tank as the final minutes ticked away.
