GAROUA, Cameroon – Mohamed Salah got back among the goals for Egypt as the record seven-time champions defeated Guinea-Bissau after Nigeria secured their place in the last 16 of the African Cup of Nations 2021 in Cameroon.
Egypt beats Guinea Bissau
Mohamed Salah squeezed a volley under the goalkeeper to give a nervous Egypt a 1-0 win over tiny Guinea-Bissau, which was denied maybe its biggest result at the AFCON Saturday when it had a brilliant late equalizer contentiously disallowed after a VAR check.
Salah’s breakthrough came in the 69th minute after the record seven-time African champion labored to break down Guinea-Bissau.
But the Liverpool forward’s smart finish with his left foot from a tight angle wasn’t nearly the most dramatic moment of the game.
Guinea-Bissau forward Mama Balde weaved in from the left wing and unleashed a shot that flew into the far corner of the net with eight minutes to go to seemingly stun Egypt, and the entire tournament in Cameroon.
But after a long delay, referee Pacifique Ndabihawenimana of Burundi went over to consult VAR and eventually disallowed the goal for a foul by Balde on Egypt defender Omar Kamal.
Balde had put a hand on Kamal’s shoulder as he forced his way past him on the way to scoring, but it was a tight, tight call.
Egypt survived another scare from a shot by Moreto Cassamá in what was just about the last kick of the game. Egypt goalkeeper Mohammed el-Shenawy dived to push it away with two hands and it was Guinea-Bissau’s last chance.
Egypt hit the post three times in the game, one of those by Salah in the first half, but the sense of relief for the Egyptians at fulltime was obvious.
The victory revived Egypt’s Group D campaign after it lost its opening game to Nigeria 1-0. But it was not the convincing reaction Egypt fans demanded and there was increasing pressure on coach Carlos Queiroz, the former Real Madrid boss.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football’s disciplinary committee announced its first punishments for the tournament.
Ghana’s Benjamin Tetteh had an automatic two-match ban for his red card in Friday’s game against Gabon increased to three matches following his sending off after the final whistle for punching an opponent.
Gabon scored a late equalizer for 1-1 and the game ended in a melee with players and officials pushing and shoving – and in Tetteh’s case, punching – in the fracas. Both teams were also given a warning by CAF.
Gabon was also punished for a different offense. CAF fined Gabon $20,000 for changing its team hotel without approval, which is against tournament regulations.
Also, Gabon coach Patric Neveu gave an update on the health of striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was ruled out of the game against Ghana because of the lingering effects of COVID-19 having tested positive for the virus on his arrival in Cameroon.
The Gabon Football Federation had said Aubameyang and teammates Mario Lemina and Axel Meyé had “cardiac lesions” caused by COVID-19. But Neveu said they did not have heart problems.
“It appears as though the virus has left residue,” Neveu said. “Aubameyang and Lemina don´t have heart problems, but COVID may have left some waste.”
Nigeria cruises into next stage
Nigeria recorded a comfortable 3-1 win over Sudan in Garoua on Saturday to stay top of Group D at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, ensuring that they progress to the knockout phase with a second successive victory.
An early goal from Samuel Chukwueze provided a positive start and Taiwo Awoniyi netted their second on the stroke of half-time.
It took Moses Simon just 30 seconds of the second half to add a third, but Sudan pulled a goal back with a fortuitous penalty, converted by Walieldin Khedr with 20 minutes left.
Nigeria now have six points from their opening two games, after beating Egypt on Tuesday, while Sudan have one point.
Chukwueze had an easy tap-in in the third minute after being set up by Simon at the end of a long throw-in.
Captain William Troost Ekong had a close effort from a free kick well saved with Awoniyi hitting the rebound against the bar as Nigeria came close to a second midway through the first half.
It was the same pair who helped Nigeria extend their lead before the break, when Troost Ekong´s effort was blocked but the rebound hit an unsuspecting Awoniyi on the head and went in.
The Bundesliga-based striker knew little about the goal but celebrated enthusiastically when he realised what had happened.
Nigeria went straight from the kick off of the second half and scored again, with Simon finishing off a sweeping set of passes, but then gave away an unwitting penalty to their opponents.
Nigeria fullback Ola Aina stood on the foot of Sudan defender Mustapha Abdelgader Karshoum at a corner in an incident ignored by both teams and the referee, but spotted by VAR staff, who asked referee Victor Gomes to look at the incident on the pitchside screen.
He awarded a penalty that Walieldin converted for a consolation goal.
