Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



African Nations Cup champions Egypt held in Botswana
Published in Daily News Egypt on 08 - 10 - 2006


Agence France-Presse CAIRO: Defending champions Egypt were held 0-0 away to Botswana Saturday as the second round of 2008 African Nations Cup qualifiers kicked off. The result lifted the Pharaohs above Group 2 surprise package Mauritania into first place on four points, one more than the minnows from the north-west of the continent. Coached by former Algeria World Cup star and coach Ali Fergani, Mauritania trounced Botswana 4-0 at home last month and will regain the leadership if they avoid defeat away to Burundi Sunday. Veteran coach and former national team defender Hassan Shehata, who guided hosts Egypt to a record fifth Nations Cup title last February, fielded an array of local and Europe-based talent at the National Stadium in Gaborone. But despite dominating territorially and creating most of the clear-cut chances, a mix of wild finishing and bad luck robbed the visitors of the victory they would have expected from the long journey to southern Africa. Dodging defeat was a relief for recently appointed Botswana coach Colwyn Roe from England after losses away to Zambia and Mauritania, and at home to the Cameroon Olympic squad. The Cameroon senior team continued their impressive form under new Dutch coach Arie Haan with a 3-0 home triumph over rising force Equatorial Guinea in a top-of-the-table Group 5 encounter. Germany-based striker Idrissou Mohammadou, a late addition to the squad after the injury-induced withdrawal of reigning African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto o, was the two-goal hero at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium. He broke the deadlock after 73 minutes in Yaounde and struck again 60 seconds from full-time after fellow striker Achille Webo, from Spanish club Osasuna, hit the second. Long a whipping boy of African football, Equatorial Guinea have made steady progress helped by an oil boom in the tiny central African state and launched their campaign with a home victory over Liberia. Rwanda, who collapsed in the second half when losing by three goals at home to four-time Nations Cup winners Cameroon, are away to Liberia Sunday in a battle of basement dwellers. Malawi overcame the dramatic midweek sacking of German coach Burkhard Ziese to surprise Zimbabwe 1-0 in Group 12 thanks to a 33rd-minute goal from Moses Chavula at Chichiri Stadium in Blantyre. Ziese was slightly injured in an attack by supporters of the Flames and manhandled out of the national stadium by stewards ahead of his dismissal following a series of poor results. Replacement Kinnah Phiri, a former national team midfielder, lifted spirits sufficiently for Chavula to break the deadlock against 2004 and 2006 Nations Cup qualifiers Zimbabwe. Portsmouth striker Benjamin Benjani Mwaruwari captained the Warriors of Zimbabwe in the absence of injured veteran Peter Ndlovu and while he lamented the loss, his Malawian parents will have mixed feelings. Morocco, whose only Nations Cup title was won in Ethiopia 30 years ago, beat Malawi in the first round and are now favored to top the three-team pool and claim a place at the 2008 finals in Ghana. Wilnes Brutus was the toast of Seychelles after they beat Mauritius 2-1 in an Indian Ocean showdown to collect their first points in Group 4, which includes Tunisia and Sudan, who meet later Saturday in Tunis. The striker put the home team ahead after 23 minutes and snatched the winner eight minutes from full-time in Victoria after Kevin Gordon had leveled early in the second half. Seychelles have traditionally struggled against the Mauritians, who exceeded expectations at home in the first round last month by holding 2004 champions Tunisia to a goalless draw. Sudan defeated Seychelles 3-0 in the other first-round match, but a Tunisian team guided by former France coach Roger Lemerre are expected to qualify for their eighth consecutive Nations Cup tournament. The highlight of a 22-match weekend program is the Sunday clash between Zambia and South Africa, who face the grim prospect of failing to qualify for the finals for the first time since 1997 if they lose the Group 11 fixture. The 12 group winners and the best three runners-up from the 10 four-team pools advance to the finals of the tournament with hosts Ghana who qualify automatically.

Clic here to read the story from its source.