CAIRO – Egypt swept into the African Nations Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Ivory Coast that also dumped 2004 finalists Morocco out of the tournament on Saturday.
Cairo celebrated to the sound of car horns after two goals from striker Emad Moteab and one by Mohamed Aboutrika propelled the host nation to the top of Group A. Coach Henri Michel, whose Ivory Coast team had already qualified for the last eight, took a calculated gamble by resting several players, notably top striker Didier Drogba.The decision may yet come back to haunt the Frenchman as his side are now likely to face tournament favourites and Group B leaders Cameroon in the last eight.A draw for Cameroon on Sunday with Democratic Republic of Congo would also qualify the Congolese, though Angola have an outside chance of securing the runners-up slot against Togo.Egypt’s joy at getting through in style was tempered by an injury to striker Mido.NOT SERIOUS The Tottenham Hotspur player, who left with a groin problem in the 24th minute, said the injury was not serious and he hoped to be fit for the next game.Strike partner Moteab had already put his side in front by the time Mido left the pitch, nodding in from close range, while Arouna Kone levelled for the Ivorians before the break.Roared on by the 77 000 crowd at Cairo’s International Stadium, Aboutrika restored Egypt’s lead in the 61st minute before Moteab added the third to put the result beyond doubt.There was little for Morocco to celebrate at the nearby Military Stadium as they could only draw 0-0 with an already eliminated Libya in their final game.Egypt’s victory meant even a win would not keep Morocco’s qualifying hopes alive.Poor finishing and the football federation’s decision to appoint a new coach only two weeks before the tournament started were to blame for their exit, the players said.-Nampa-Reuters * See full weekend results on page 28.Coach Henri Michel, whose Ivory Coast team had already qualified for the last eight, took a calculated gamble by resting several players, notably top striker Didier Drogba.The decision may yet come back to haunt the Frenchman as his side are now likely to face tournament favourites and Group B leaders Cameroon in the last eight.A draw for Cameroon on Sunday with Democratic Republic of Congo would also qualify the Congolese, though Angola have an outside chance of securing the runners-up slot against Togo.Egypt’s joy at getting through in style was tempered by an injury to striker Mido.NOT SERIOUS The Tottenham Hotspur player, who left with a groin problem in the 24th minute, said the injury was not serious and he hoped to be fit for the next game.Strike partner Moteab had already put his side in front by the time Mido left the pitch, nodding in from close range, while Arouna Kone levelled for the Ivorians before the break.Roared on by the 77 000 crowd at Cairo’s International Stadium, Aboutrika restored Egypt’s lead in the 61st minute before Moteab added the third to put the result beyond doubt.There was little for Morocco to celebrate at the nearby Military Stadium as they could only draw 0-0 with an already eliminated Libya in their final game.Egypt’s victory meant even a win would not keep Morocco’s qualifying hopes alive.Poor finishing and the football federation’s decision to appoint a new coach only two weeks before the tournament started were to blame for their exit, the players said.-Nampa-Reuters * See full weekend results on page 28.
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