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Nigeria and Senegal through to quarters from 'Group of Death'
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AFP
January 31, 2006
PORT SAID, Egypt (AFP) - Nigeria beat Senegal 2-1 in a final African
Nations Cup Group D match but both teams qualified for the quarter-finals
of the competition.
Nigeria finished top of Group D, otherwise known as the 'Group
of Death' with maximum nine points from three matches while Senegal
pipped both Zimbabwe and Ghana to the second spot on the strength
of better goals difference after they all finished tied on three
points.
Zimbabwe beat Ghana 2-1 in the other Group D match played in Ismailia.
Nigeria will now tackle champions Tunisia here in Port Said in
one of the quarter-finals Saturday while Guinea square up with Senegal.
Nice striker Souleymane Camara put Senegal ahead in 59th minute
when he shot from inside the box after a goal melee.
Nigeria drew level on 79th minute through Obafemi Martins, who
headed home a fine cross from the right by the enterprising Nwankwo
Kanu and nine minutes later Martins ended his much-talked about
dry run with a second.
"It was a big relief to achieve our main objective of qualifying
from this group," said Senegal coach Abdoulaye Sarr.
"We controlled the game for most of the 80 minutes before a
goalkeeping error demoralised my team. But all the same we are delighted
we are through to the quarter-finals."
Nigeria coach Austin Eguavoen, who described his team as "the
luckiest in the group", said his team were now looking forward
to avenging their semi-final defeat by Tunisia two years ago.
"Tunisia are a solid team but we were unlucky to lose to them
in 2004 but now we are very much at home in Port Said and wish to
take our revenge," he said.
After a cautious start during which both teams tried to size each
other Wigan striker Henri Camara made the first attempt at goal
in the sixth minute but Nigeria keeper Vincent Enyeama did well
to scramble his shot for a corner.
Senegal continued to attack and five minutes later Diomansy Kamara
got to the end of a long ball but his final touch was disappointing.
Kamara, with his blistering pace and dribble, was a contant source
of danger for Nigeria as he peppered Taye Taiwo with his dashing
runs down the right flank.
The Teranga Lions again came close on 21 minutes when Lamine Diatta's
diving header off a Diouf freekick from the right side missed narrowly.
And soon after Joseph Enakarhire had to upend Henri Camara who was
headed for goal as Senegal continued to mount pressure.
Nigeria slowly began to warm their way into the match as they passed
the ball well in midfield but the final ball often let them down.
John Utaka on the right wing ran at Omar Daf, in for the suspended
Habib Beye.
However, just before the break, Nigeria had to dig really deep
to keep away the goal-hungry Senegalese after skipper Ferdinand
Coly initiated another attack from the right but somehow the Eagles
cleared their lines.
In the second period, Senegal continued to attack even after they
were rewarded on 59 minutes through substitute Souleymane Camara.
Nigeria's chances were few and far between. Obafemi Martins took
a low shot from the edge of the box in the 50th minute which screamed
across the face of goal.
Pape Bouba Diop tried one of his famed shots on 75 minutes but
Enyeama held well before the 'Super Eagles' rose high to draw level
and avenge their 2-1 defeat in the semi-finals of the same competition
four years ago in Mali.
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