Nigeria’s hope of
participating in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nation in Gabon has been dashed after
losing by a lone goal to Egypt in a return leg of the qualifier in their Group
G match on Tuesday in Alexandria.
It will be the second time
in two years that the Super Eagles have failed to qualify for the Nations Cup.
With just one game
remaining and only the group winners to qualify, Nigeria cannot make up their
five-point deficit to table-toppers Egypt.
Ramadan Sobhy's
65th-minute winner puts Egypt on the verge of qualification.
Egypt face Tanzania in
June and will book their place in Gabon with any result better than a 3-0
defeat.
Tuesday's match in
Alexandria became a virtually all-or-nothing tie after Chad withdrew from the
group on Sunday, citing financial difficulties, and all results from their
matches them were erased.
That left only three teams
in Group G and in accordance with the rules of the Confederation of African
only the winner would qualify for the finals.
The Ahly teenager, who
came on as a second half substitute to set up Mohamed Salah for a precious goal
that salvaged a 1-1 draw away to Nigeria on Friday, provided the highlight of
the game when his low shot deflected off a defender and went beneath the keeper
five minutes past the hour mark.
The goal sparked wild
celebrations at the army-owned stadium, with Egypt basking in a huge backing
from more than 40,000 fans after authorities had temporarily lifted a
long-standing crowd ban.
Argentinean coach Hector
Cuper will be credited with delivering what three of his predecessors failed to
achieve, with Egypt failing to qualify for three successive Nations Cups under
Hassan Shehata, American Bob Bradley and Shawki Gharib respectively.
The record winners won the
last of their seven titles in 2010 in Angola, which completed a hat-trick of
unprecedented straight triumphs, but have suffered the adverse effects of
incessant political turmoil in the following years.
Egypt are almost certain
to make it to next year's finals in Gabon as they top their group with seven
points, five clear of Nigeria who now lost any hopes of qualifying due to the
sudden withdrawal of bottom side Chad.
Nigeria's only remaining
match is against Tanzania, who have a solitary point.
Tanzania's slim hopes lie
in beating Egypt by more than a three-goal margin to have the upper hand in the
head-to-head record, given that they suffered an opening 3-0 defeat by the
Pharaohs in June last year, and overcoming Nigeria in their final game.
Lively start
Egypt made two changes to
the side that held Nigeria to a draw in Kaduna, with Ismaily's Marwan Mohsem
playing as a lone striker instead of Sporting Braga's Ahmed 'Kouka' Hassan and
Sobhi playing on the left wing instead of Anderlecht's on-loan midfielder
Mahmoud Trezeguet.
Egypt made a lively start
that saw them create two early chances, with central defender Ahmed Hegazy
grazing the outside of the post with a free header and playmaker Abdallah
El-Said going close with a shot from the edge of the area following a pull-back
from Sobhi.
Nigeria gained more
possession afterwards but were largely timid, with a tight Egypt's defence
marshaled by central pair Ahmed Hegazy and Rami Rabia comfortable with any long
balls and pacy right-back Omar Gaber leaving little room for Victor Moses to
operate.
The tempo was slow until
the latter stages of the first half when a couple of chances breathed life into
a lethargic affair.
Defensive midfielder
Ibrahim Salah had a shot from the edge of the area smothered by stand-in keeper
Daniel Akpeyi, who deputized for the ill Carl Ikeme, before the Warri Wolves
shot-stopper was called into action again to superbly thwart a glancing header
from Rabia following a right-wing cross from Mohamed Salah.
Egypt remained in control
after the break despite the scarcity of genuine chances and managed to break
the deadlock on 65 minutes.
A poor defensive clearance
fell to Sobhi, with the 18-year-old sending a low shot in a crowded area that
took a wicked deflection to send the home fans into raptures.
Nigeria piled on pressure
in the dying minutes and their only real chance in the game saw a powerful low
shot from Moses denied by the post six minutes from time.
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