Egypt beat Nigeria 1-0 & Still tops group G | ACON Q2015
Egypt moved within touching distance of a place at next year’s African Cup of Nations for the first time since 2010 when a Ramadan Sobhi goal in the second half gave them a valuable 1-0 win over main challengers Nigeria at Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab Stadium on Tuesday.
The Ahly teenager, who came on as a second half substitute to set up Mohamed Salah for a precious goal that salvaged a 1-1 draw away to Nigeria on Friday, provided the highlight of the game when his low shot deflected off a defender and went beneath the keeper five minutes past the hour mark.
Watch the Goal here:
Ramadan GOAL (1:0) Egypt vs Nigeria 29/03/2016 by OfficialGoals
The goal sparked wild celebrations at the army-owned stadium, with Egypt basking in a huge backing from more than 40,000 fans after authorities had temporarily lifted a long-standing crowd ban.
Argentinean coach Hector Cuper will be credited with delivering what three of his predecessors failed to achieve, with Egypt failing to qualify for three successive Nations Cups under Hassan Shehata, American Bob Bradley and Shawki Gharib respectively.
The record winners won the last of their seven titles in 2010 in Angola, which completed a hat-trick of unprecedented straight triumphs, but have suffered the adverse effects of incessant political turmoil in the following years.
Egypt are almost certain to make it to next year’s finals in Gabon as they top their group with seven points, five clear of Nigeria who now lost any hopes of qualifying due to the sudden withdrawal of bottom side Chad.
Nigeria’s only remaining match is against Tanzania, who have a solitary point.
Tanzania’s slim hopes lie in beating Egypt by more than a three-goal margin to have the upper hand in the head-to-head record, given that they suffered an opening 3-0 defeat by the Pharaohs in June last year, and overcoming Nigeria in their final game.
