Last eight sans Egypt
Four-time winner Egypt went out of the 2004 Cup of Nations following their goalless draw against Cameroon. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab reports
Almost all the deciders in the quarterfinals ended in a tie this week, raising blood pressure level amongst most fans and most teams. Guinea and Tunisia qualified in Group A, Mali and Senegal emerged from Group B, and Cameroon and Algeria booked their places in Group C. It is expected that Nigeria and Morocco will evolve from Group D in their upcoming meet.
In Group C, Egypt's 0-0 meeting with Cameroon in its decider resulted with the Pharaohs levelling on points with second-placed Algeria. They were forced out, however, courtesy of the latter's superior number of scored goals.
Cameroon rarely looked in trouble in defence, although Egypt's Tarek El-Sayed rattled the angle of post and bar late on. Cameroon top Group C with five points, and were content to play for the draw.
Zimbabwe ended their first appearance at the Cup of Nations with a deserved win over Algeria. Adam Ndlovu missed two gilt-edged first-half chances before finally making the breakthrough when he headed in off a post from a corner.
Six minutes later, a Zimbabwe break saw Joel Luphahla fire in a second and at 2-0 Algeria would have been out. But Hocine Achiou, the hero against Egypt, headed home a crucial goal to ensure that Algeria creep through.
Given media critic pressure at home, Egyptian coach Mohsen Saleh vowed before the game to quit his post even if he led the Pharaohs to victory at the Cup of Nations in Tunisia. Before the team arrived in Tunisia for the tournament, Saleh had told the EFA that anything less than a semi-final place for the Pharaohs would be unacceptable: "If we lose, I'm out. That will not be my decision but a football one."
Given the game's result, Saleh announced his resignation -- effective upon arrival home.
In group A, Guinea sealed a place in the last eight of the ACN thanks to a late strike from Titi Camara. The former West Ham and Liverpool forward smashed his shot into the roof of the Tunisia goal five minutes from time. Before the goal Guinea's fate was to be decided by lots after rivals Rwanda went ahead against DR Congo. Guinea's aim before the match was to hold Tunisia to a draw or even beat the hosts to take top spot in Group A.
Tunisia opened the scoring thanks to Slim Benachour, who had just returned from a one-match red-card suspension, gave his side the lead in the 58th minute.
The crafty midfielder finished off an exquisite move, between himself and Dos Santos, by rifling the ball high into the Guinea net.
The result still would have seen Guinea qualify in second, but 15 minutes before the final whistle that all changed when Rwanda took a 1-0 lead against DR Congo. That would have left the fates of both Guinea and Rwanda decided by lots.
But with five minutes of the match remaining, Titi Camara kept a cool head when he took advantage of defender Riadh Jaidi's mistake to score and virtually guarantee his side's passage into the last eight.
Guinea last reached the latter stages of the Cup of Nations in 1976 when in a round-robin group match to decide the title, they drew 1-1 with Morocco. The draw earned the Moroccans the Cup.
Rwanda, as well as Zimbabwe, went home from Tunisia with mixed feelings. Both became the only newcomers to secure a win. Not since South Africa's win over Cameroon in 1996 had any debutant side won a match at the Cup of Nations finals. Rwanda changed that with Sunday's 1-0 victory over arch-rivals DR Congo in Bizerte.
In Group B, Mali held neighbours Senegal to a 1-1 draw in the El Menzah stadium as they secured top spot in Group B. Despite resting Frederic Kanoute, Mali opened the scoring when Dramane Traore headed home just after the half-hour.
Habib Beye drew Senegal level when he converted Henri Camara's free-kick in first-half stoppage time, and El Hadji Diouf hit a post late on.
Mali went ahead when Dramane Traore, who plays his league football for Ismaili in Egypt, scored his first goal at Tunisia 2004 when he rose brilliantly to head a speculative cross from right-back Fousseiny Diawara into the top left-hand corner of the goal.
Yet the Teranga Lions drew level two minutes into first-half injury time as defender Habib Beye flung himself at Henri Camara's free-kick to nod the ball past Mali goalkeeper Mahamdou Sidibe.
Mali's Eagles managed to take the point needed to win the group, and with Kenya beating Burkina Faso 3- 0 in the other game the Senegalese also knew a draw was enough to see them into the last eight.
Senegal will meet hosts Tunisia in the last eight, while Mali face Group A runners-up Guinea.
