FOOTBALL – Egypt’s bid to secure World Cup qualification was put on hold after a 0-0 draw against Burkina Faso in a flat Group A encounter in Ouagadougou yesterday.
Hossam Hassan’s unbeaten side moved to 20 points and lead Group A by five points ahead of Burkina Faso, with two matches remaining in the qualifiers.
With only the group winners qualifying automatically, the seven-time African champions need two points from their last two games to guarantee their spot and a fourth appearance at the World Cup. They will face Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau in October.
Egypt coach Hassan, however, celebrated the result, which moved his side one step closer to reaching the 48-team tournament to be held in North America next year.
“It’s a great day for the Egyptian people... I would like to thank every player for their efforts against a tough team that has players in the Premier League, Bundesliga and Ligue 1,” Hassan, the former Egypt striker who led them to the 1990 World Cup, told the On Sport channel.
Egypt suffered an early setback when Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush was forced off through injury in the ninth minute.
Their best moment came in the 67th minute when Mohamed Salah set up Osama Faisal but the substitute’s strike was ruled offside.
Egypt’s Trezeguet had the first chance of the game, but his effort was saved by Burkina Faso goalkeeper Herve Koffi.
The home side rarely attacked, with Sunderland forward Bertrand Traore leading most of their best efforts.
Egypt went close to grabbing a winner in the final moments, but Mostafa Mohamed missed two chances.
Hassan, Egypt’s all-time top scorer, will be the first to lead his side to the World Cup both as a player and as a coach.
The 59-year-old coach said: “My goal was to coach the Egyptian national team. I have always dreamed of that. I want to fulfil the fans’ dream and live up to their trust.
Meanwhile, Cameroon suffered their first defeat under Marc Brys as Cape Verde took a potentially decisive step towards a maiden World Cup.
In heavy rain on the slick artificial surface in Praia, the Blue Sharks settled quicker: Livramento drew an early stop from André Onana and the hosts appealed for a penalty when Jovane Cabral went down under pressure from Boyomo.
The Indomitable Lions created their best opening on the stroke of half-time, when André-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s header was brilliantly clawed away by Vozinha.
The winner arrived soon after the restart. Livramento surged half the length of the pitch and arrowed a low finish across Onana to ignite the home crowd.
Cameroon pressed – Carlos Baleba twice went close and Onana ventured up for the final set-piece – but Cape Verde were organised and dangerous on the break, with Jamiro Monteiro and Willy Semedo missing chances to settle it.
The result leaves the Blue Sharks four points clear at the summit with two games to play, while Cameroon’s focus turns to securing second, with Libya still in the hunt.
A fiercely contested meeting between South Africa and Nigeria ended 1-1.
Bafana Bafana struck first when Troost-Ekong turned a left-wing cross into his own net under pressure. Nigeria responded before the interval: Mbekezeli Mbokazi beat his man down the right and squared for Bassey to convert from close range.
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