Ivory Coast and Senegal in the last 16 | Sports | '
Côte d'Ivoire have qualified as the sixth nation for the knockout stages of the Africa Cup in Egypt. The West Africans won their last group match of Group D against Namibia 4: 1 (1: 0) and thus achieved second place. Namibia has been eliminated. Morocco had been determined as a playoff participant before the preliminary round. By a 1-0 (0: 0) against the South Africans, the Moroccans were group winners. South Africa's chances of progressing are only very limited.
Also ahead is Senegal, who defeated Kenya 3: 0 (0: 0) in Group C in the evening, also in Cairo, thus finishing second. No defiance was league leaders Algeria in 3: 0 (3: 0) against Tanzania, which has to travel home. Kenya is third, but due to the bad goal difference, he has bad cards on a place in the second round.
A touch of Gijón
The match between South Africa and Morocco in Cairo had some of the "disgrace of Gijón" over long stretches, as Germany and Austria agreed on a non-aggression pact at the 1982 World Cup after an early German lead, as the result would both ensure their progress. South Africa scored one point for the group win, Morocco needed a draw to most likely be among the top four group thirds to reach the play-offs in that Africa Cup.
Goal hungry Ivorer
And so it was a game with at first few highlights – scoring opportunities were in short supply, there were hardly offensive actions. The priority, especially the favored Moroccans, was on the defensive in the first half. The news of the lead for Côte d'Ivoire against Namibia in parallel did not alter the tactical behavior. There, in the stadium of June 30, Max-Alain Gradel met in the 39th minute, then increased Geoffroy Serey Die (58.). As a result, the Ivorians pushed past the South Africans (4) in the group B table with six points.
But who of the again very few spectators in the Al-Salam Stadium had expected that "Bafana Bafana" would attack now, was disappointed. Instead, the Northwest Africans had two good chances to score: Achraf Hakimi of Borussia Dortmund hit the crossbar (63) with a 20-meter burst, then Youssef En-Nesyri missed the ball from an acute angle at the right corner of the six-yard space over the span slipped (68.).
Showdown in the final minute
The encounter between Namibia and Côte d'Ivoire brought some more tension as Juslin Kamatuka reduced the score to 1: 2 in the 71st minute. But Wilfried Zaha (84.) let the "elephants" rejoice with his goal to 3-1. Maxwell Cornet even increased to 4: 1 in the 89th minute.
Morocco, here Youssef En-Nesyri, a foot tip ahead – South Africa's Bongani Zungu has the disadvantage
While Morocco, especially from the middle of the second half did not want to accept the draw and was still offensive, South Africa continued to get involved in the penalty area. But the risky plan should not work. In the 90th minute, Morocco was awarded a free kick in a half-left position, the cross was initially fended off, but then fell to Mbark Boussoufa in front of the feet, who completed from seven meters to 1: 0. Morocco managed to win their third game in the third game, South Africa must hope for favorable constellations in the further preliminaries on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Clear thing for Algeria
Three games, nine points – the yield of Algeria in the group stage of the African Cup is so far optimal. Against overwhelmed Tanzanians were enough ten minutes before the break to secure the group victory. Islam Slimani (35.) and twice Adam Ounas (39./45.) Made the early decision in this encounter.
Algeria's Islam Slimani (4th from the left) celebrates his goal to make it 1-0 against Tanzania
Long open, however, was the match between Kenya and Senegal. Top star Sadio Mané of Liverpool failed after just under half an hour with a penalty kick to Senegal goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, who defused in the episode several other chances and kept his team in the game. All the more tragic that Matasi then misguided in the 0: 1 by Ismaila Sarr disoriented through the box and so only made the hit possible (63.). This was the spell, Sadio Mané first out of the field (72.) and later with the next penalty (78.) made everything clear.
So far, Uganda, Madagascar, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, Ivory Coast and Senegal have qualified for the knockout stages.
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