AFCON 2021: Nigeria Progress On 100% Win, Egypt Scrape Through

Super Eagles players celebrating a goal at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations football
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Egypt beat neighbours Sudan 1-0 in Yaoundé to ensure their progress to the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations, finishing second behind Nigeria in Group D after another laboured performance.

Centre-back Mohamed Abdelmoneim, drafted in because of injury, headed home after 38 minutes from a corner to make the breakthrough as Egypt dominated the derby game but created few chances.

The display will not do much to temper the criticism that followed the Egyptians’ first two games at the tournament, a 1-0 loss to Nigeria followed by a narrow win over tiny Guinea Bissau.

Egypt ended with six points, three behind Nigeria, and will meet the winners of Group E, which is to be settled on Thursday. Sudan finished with one point and were eliminated from the tournament.

Captain Mohamed Salah played a full 90 minutes but few of his combinations with his teammates came off in what was another frustrating performance. “There aren’t any more easy matches in the competitions, so we are just please to go through and believe we can only get stronger,” Egypt defender Ahmed Hegazy said.

Striker Sadiq Umar scored his first goal for Nigeria as they eased to a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissauto ensure a full haul of nine points in Group D and oust their opponents.

Umar, who has been criticised for some glaring misses in previous games, netted when Kelechi Iheanacho’s excellent pass with the outside of his boot across the goal provided a tap-in for the tall forward at the back post.

Nigeria were in cruise control and scored a second as William Troost Ekong netted from close-range after Moses Simon had hit the crossbar following a mazy run into the box.

Agency Report


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