African Cup of Nations qualifiers - big upsets

[Pharaoh]

Not sure there's anything trickier in international football than away matches in Africa... random floodlight blackouts, loss of camera feeds, shady officiating, fan interference..

Here are the results from today's matches:

Tanzania 1:1 Senegal
Eritrea 1:1 Angola
South Africa 4:0 Chad
Uganda 2:1 Nigeria (both Ugandan goals were penalties)
Rwanda 2:0 Equatorial Guinea
Namibia 1:0 Libya
Zambia 3:0 Congo
Cape Verde 2:2 Algeria (Algeria were playing with 10 men most of the match)
Tunisia 4:0 Seychelles
Sudan 3:0 Mauritius
Morocco 2:0 Zimbabwe


Sunday's matches:

Sierra Leone vs. Togo
Cote d'Ivoire vs. Madagascar
Niger vs. Lesotho
Swaziland vs. Kenya
Guinea vs. Gambia
Liberia vs. Cameroon
Mozambique vs. Burkina Faso
Burundi vs. Botswana
Benin vs. Mali
Mauritania vs. Egypt

[Pharaoh]

and just when I mention how wacky matches are in Africa, I see this news from the BBC


Twelve fans die at Zambia game

Reports say twelve Zambian fans died at the Chililabombwe stadium
There are reports that twelve fans were killed and up to 20 injured as celebrations turned to a crushing stampede at the Chililabombwe stadium, in Zambia on Saturday.

The fans were celebrating Zambia's 3-0 win over Congo, in the country's Group Eleven Cup of Nations qualifying match, as they exited the stadium.

The Chief of Police in the Copper Belt region of the country, Antoneil Mutenthwa said: "A stampede ensued as too many fans tried to squeeze through the few exits available.

"Twelve people have been killed, 9 men and 3 women."

It is thought none of the travelling contingent from Congo were injured.

Provincial minister Mwansa Mbulakulima is expected to travel to the region to assess the situation.

[Nokhodi]

Eritrea 1:1 Angola

Ouch, that hurts. A country that people don't even know exists gets the same result we got against Angola.

[Pharaoh]

Ouch, that hurts. A country that people don't even know exists gets the same result we got against Angola.

If it makes you feel any better, Angola beat them 6-1 at home when they played in March.

[zaphod]

Uganda 2:1 Nigeria (both Ugandan goals were penalties)

This is huge upset. Do you know any Ugandan players? And Nigeria's coach is Berti Vogts...

[zaphod]

Eritrea 1:1 Angola

Ouch, that hurts. A country that people don't even know exists gets the same result we got against Angola.

Eritrea was in U-20 world cup few years ago (when Iran was also qualified) and they actually had a very strong team. I watched their match against Netherlands, they almost won. I can imagine these are the same players.

[palestine2003]

[QUOTE=Mauritania vs. Egypt[/QUOTE]


Its all about this match!!!

[Pharaoh]

This is huge upset. Do you know any Ugandan players? And Nigeria's coach is Berti Vogts...

I personally don't, but a Ugandan on the Nigerian forum was bragging about one or two foreign based players they have. Most of the Ugandan team plays their club football in South Africa. Only thing I really know about their team is they were sporting some pretty nice Puma uniforms yesterday

[Pharaoh]

Its all about this match!!!

I'm telling you from now, don't expect more than a draw! As usual, none of the away teams won yesterday. As you know in Afirca, the better team can win by 4 or 5 goals at home sometimes, then lose or draw with that very same team on the road. Egypt's tendency to play down to minnows sometimes doesn't help either

Mauritania does have a very tall, physically imposing team. Egypt should keep the ball on the ground and use the wings today.

[zaphod]

I'm telling you from now, don't expect more than a draw! As usual, none of the away teams won yesterday. As you know in Afirca, the better team can win by 4 or 5 goals at home sometimes, then lose or draw with that very same team on the road. Egypt's tendency to play down to minnows sometimes doesn't help either
Mauritania does have a very tall, physically imposing team. Egypt should keep the ball on the ground and use the wings today.

So how is Egypt team right now? I only know Mido, Ghali and Sharif Ekrami and all three are quite good. Are they involved?

[Pharaoh]

So how is Egypt team right now? I only know Mido, Ghali and Sharif Ekrami and all three are quite good. Are they involved?

The Egyptian team right now is solid in midfield and up front, but weak in defense.

Strikers:

Mido has been dropped from the team due to his lack of playing time with his club lately. Mohamed Zidan (you haven't heard of him?) had a stellar season in Germany. 15 goals in 17 appearances I believe and a player of the month award. He is unfortunately injured so neither of these two will be featuring at striker today. Ghaly has turned into a stud in midfield. Strong, athletic, big, technically sound, and thankfully some good experience now in one of the top leagues in the world. Ekramy is still quite young. He only seems to be chosen when we pick 3 goalkeepers, but when the roster is trimmed to just two keepers, he's rarely on it. Essam El-Hadary (El-Ahly) is firmly entrenched as the starting keeper.

Amr Zaky (Zamalek) is another big, strong striker in the Mido mould who's excellent in the air. This guy will likely start today.

Rest of the midfield:

Right winger Ahmed Fathy is a young player with promise, playing his club football with Sheffield United.

Mohamed Abou Treika, playmaker for El-Ahly, is still the fan favorite. Good guy, humble, always smiling, and always seems dazzle in big games.

One young player to keep your eye on is Chikibala. Yes, he goes by one name, though his real name is Mohamed Abdel Raziq. He plays playmaker/attacking midfield and the kid has some skills. He should feature today in today's match, which starts very soon.

The only weakness in midfield is along the left side, where the death of Mohamed Abdel Wahab (God rest his soul) at age 21 has left a huge void on that side which took years to finally fill in the first place.

Hosny Abd Rabbo and of course Ahmed Hassan (Anderlecht) round out the regulars in midfield.

Defense:

Here's the big problem. The only good player IMO is centerback Wael Gomaa from El-Ahly.. tall, bald initmidating figure with with peircing eyes. But the guy is already in his 30's. There are some young players coming up like Karim Zekry but they haven't featured with the national team yet. The only other player worth mentioning is Ibrahim Said. Lot's of talent but a retard. Always dying his hair different colors and fighting. Hopefully he gets his head on straight as he's still fairly young.

There was lot's of hope for CB Amir Azmy, who was a regular starter for PAOK in Greece. Then he suddenly makes a shock transfer to Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia WTF

[Pharaoh]

Mauritania/Egypt finished 1-1. Egypt scored in the first few minutes, and got lazy and complacent. In the second half Shawqy got a red card and we were down to 10 men. Mauritania equalized after a defensive lapse. Then, Chikibala scores for Egypt only for an imaginary offsides to be called

Halftime lasted FOURTY minutes... nobody knows why yet. The second half also lasted 40 minutes. In fact, right after Wael Gomaa hit the crossbar for Egypt in the 86th minute, the ref blew the freaking whistle! We'll probably still qualify with no problems but WTF.. only in Africa

The entire weekend's results:

Tanzania 1:1 Senegal
Eritrea 1:1 Angola
South Africa 4:0 Chad
Uganda 2:1 Nigeria
Rwanda 2:0 Equatorial Guinea
Namibia 1:0 Libya
Zambia 3:0 Congo
Cape Verde 2:2 Algeria
Tunisia 4:0 Seychelles
Sudan 3:0 Mauritius
Morocco 2:0 Zimbabwe

Mozambique 3:0 Burkina Faso
Burundi 1:0 Botswana
Niger 2:0 Lesotho
Benin 0:0 Mali
Ivory Coast 5:0 Madagascar
Liberia 1:2 Cameroon
Swaziland 0:0 Kenya
Sierra Leone 0:1 Togo
Mauritania 1:1 Egypt
Guinea 2:2 Gambia

[Pali]

Mauritania/Egypt finished 1-1. Egypt scored in the first few minutes, and got lazy and complacent. In the second half Shawqy got a red card and we were down to 10 men. Mauritania equalized after a defensive lapse. Then, Chikibala scores for Egypt only for an imaginary offsides to be called

Halftime lasted FOURTY minutes... nobody knows why yet. The second half also lasted 40 minutes. In fact, right after Wael Gomaa hit the crossbar for Egypt in the 86th minute, the ref blew the freaking whistle! We'll probably still qualify with no problems but WTF.. only in Africa

The entire weekend's results:

Tanzania 1:1 Senegal
Eritrea 1:1 Angola
South Africa 4:0 Chad
Uganda 2:1 Nigeria
Rwanda 2:0 Equatorial Guinea
Namibia 1:0 Libya
Zambia 3:0 Congo
Cape Verde 2:2 Algeria
Tunisia 4:0 Seychelles
Sudan 3:0 Mauritius
Morocco 2:0 Zimbabwe

Mozambique 3:0 Burkina Faso
Burundi 1:0 Botswana
Niger 2:0 Lesotho
Benin 0:0 Mali
Ivory Coast 5:0 Madagascar
Liberia 1:2 Cameroon
Swaziland 0:0 Kenya
Sierra Leone 0:1 Togo
Mauritania 1:1 Egypt
Guinea 2:2 Gambia

seriously bro what a joke

[palestine2003]

Halftime lasted FOURTY minutes... nobody knows why yet. The second half also lasted 40 minutes. In fact, right after Wael Gomaa hit the crossbar for Egypt in the 86th minute, the ref blew the freaking whistle! We'll probably still qualify with no problems but WTF.. only in Africa

HAHAHAHAH only in Africa.. Wow i missed the game..86th minute the ref blew? Wow takadom gamid.. alak khalas im too tired of running around.. we'll let this game finish a bit early! Gotta love it

[Pali]

HAHAHAHAH only in Africa.. Wow i missed the game..86th minute the ref blew? Wow takadom gamid.. alak khalas im too tired of running around.. we'll let this game finish a bit early! Gotta love it

hahaha asl il dinya har fi mauritania il ayam di