African nations tested themselves against teams outside the continent as a prelude to World Cup qualifying matches. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab rounds up the friendly encounters African champions Egypt were beaten 2-0 by the world's top ranked side, Argentina, on Wednesday in Cairo. A full strength Egypt side, including controversial keeper Essam El-Hadari, conceded two goals in the last 20 minutes to go down to the South American giants. Egypt were fielding virtually the same team which beat Cameroon in the Nations Cup final in Ghana one month ago. The game in Cairo International Stadium was unremarkable in the first half, but in the second period Hassan Shehata's team stretched the visitors several times. First Mohamed Zidan shot just wide, and then Mohamed Abou- Treika struck weakly, straight into the arms of the Argentine keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri. The misses were punished with 20 minutes to go, when the Argentina striker Sergio Aguero struck a powerful shot past El-Hadari. Hadari was loudly abused by some of the fans, who were angered at his controversial attempt to move away from his Egyptian club side Ahli. Young Argentina defender Nicolas Burdisso sealed their win with a looping header at the far post from Maxi Rodriguez's free kick. In Pretoria, the upcoming World Cup hosts, South Africa, secured a deserved 3-0 victory over their own South American opposition Paraguay. In the process, striker Benni McCarthy became his country's top international goalscorer. McCarthy became his country's top goalscorer with a header which helped his side to a morale boosting victory in Pretoria. Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was under pressure after Bafana Bafana failed to get out of the group stages of the recent Nations Cup. But on home soil they produced a strong performance to earn their first victory over South American opposition in 10 attempts. The other goals came from Surprise Moriri and Siphiwe Tshabalala. In other friendlies, Ghana suffered a 2-1 loss to Mexico. Ghana took the lead in the game, held at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground in London, but they were not able to hold on to it. After a goalless first half, Michael Essien gave the Black Stars the lead with a driving shot from outside the area, which went in off the post. But Mexico equalised in simple fashion, when Ghana's substitute goalkeeper, Patrick Antwi, slipped as he prepared to deal with a back pass. Carlos Salcido punished his mistake. Four minutes from time, Ghana captain John Mensah hauled down Adolfo Bautista in the box and Mexico's Pavel Pardo stepped up to convert the penalty and give his side the win. Morocco bounced back from their dreadful Nations Cup campaign with a 4-1 win over Belgium. It was a first win for stand-in coach Fathi Jamal, who took over after the departure of Henri Michel. "After our dramatic exit in the Africa Cup, this really feels great. It has been a long time since we played like this," Morocco playmaker Mbark Boussoufa said. Tunisia met Ivory Coast in France, and came away with a 2-0 win. Goals from Tijani Belaid and Radhouane Felhi gave Roger Lemerre's side victory, although the coach is shortly to leave his post. Liberia scored a surprise 2-0 win over Sudan in Khartoum in their first game under new coach Antoine Hey. The first result of the day was a 1-1 draw between Uganda and Libya in Kampala. Caesar Okhuti put the Cranes ahead in the 48th minute, with the equaliser coming in the 90th minute from Younes Shidani. DR Congo and Algeria were in France for another match near Paris. Dieumerci Mbokani put the Simbas ahead in the 35th minute, but a late penalty converted by Kamel Ghiles meant the game ended 1-1. Tanzania's game against Mozambique was cancelled due to heavy rains at the old national stadium in Dar es Salaam. Elsewhere, Zimbabwe beat Botswana 1-0 in Gaborone, with the goal scored by Cuthbert Malajila.
