For the second time in a row, the Nigeria Super Eagles will not be in AFCON following her ouster by the Pharaohs of Egypt who are now technically through to the Gabon 2017 championship, following a 1-0 loss in Egypt, courtesy of Ramadan Sobhy’s 65th minute goal.
That goal was all the Egyptians needed to break the hearts of Nigerians and ensured that the Eagles will miss AFCON again just as was the case in 2015 when Equatorial Guinea hosted the rest of Africa.
With the result Egypt was through to the African Nations Cup in Gabon. They now have seven points after three matches making their last match against Tanzania a formality. Nigeria’s chances were all blown up after the withdrawal of Chad.
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.
The goal sparked wild celebrations at the army-owned stadium, with Egypt reveling in a huge backing from more than 40,000 fans after authorities had temporarily lifted a long-standing crowd ban.
Argentinean coach Hector Cuper would 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 holders won the last of their record seven titles in 2010 in Angola, which completed a hat-trick of unprecedented three straight triumphs, but suffered the adverse effects of incessant political turmoil in the following years.
Egypt is 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 a three-goal marging 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, before overcoming Nigeria in their final game.
Egypt made two changes to the side that held Nigeria to a draw in Kaduna, with Ismaily’s Marwan Mohsem playing as a lone striker instead of Sporting Braga’s Ahmed ‘Kouka’ Hassan and Sobhi playing on the left wing instead of Anderlecht’s on-loan midfielder Mahmoud Trezeguet.
Egypt made a lively start that saw them create two early chances, with central defender Ahmed Hegazy grazing the outside of the post with a free header and playmaker Abdallah El-Said going close with a shot from the edge of the area following a pull-back from Sobhi.
Nigeria gained more possession afterwards but were largely timid, with a tight Egypt’s defence marshaled by central pair Ahmed Hegazy and Rami Rabia comfortable with any long balls and pacy right-back Omar Gaber leaving little room for Victor Moses to operate.
The tempo was slow until the latter stages of the first half when a couple of chances breathed life into a lethargic affair.
Defensive midfielder Ibrahim Salah had a shot from the edge of the area smothered by stand-in keeper Daniel Akpeyi, who deputized for the ill Carl Ikeme, before the Warri Wolves shot-stopper was called into action again to superbly thwart a glancing header from Rabia following a right-wing cross from Mohamed Salah.
Egypt remained in control after the break despite the scarcity of genuine chances and managed to break the deadlock on 65 minutes.
A poor defensive clearance fell to Sobh, with the 18-year-old sending a low shot in a crowded area that took a wicked deflection to send the home fans into raptures.
Nigeria piled on pressure in the dying minutes and their only real chance in the game saw a powerful low shot from Moses denied by the post six minutes from time.
The Super Eagles will welcome Tanzania in an insignificant clash at home. Tanzania have two points from three matches same as Nigeria.
According to CAF rules, if a team withdraws then all points that were earned from the team are deducted and only one team qualifies from the three team group.
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