It was an extremely important match for both teams, because in the first matches of Group B of the African Cup of Nations, both Angola and Zimbabwe lost to their rivals. It was therefore known that the fight for three points would be extremely fierce, which was visible on the pitch from the first minutes.
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They had nothing to lose. An important clash in the African Cup of Nations
Already in the first minutes, Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi had to defend his opponents’ shots twice. And in the 24th minute he capitulated. To Carneiro played a great ball into the penalty area to Gelson Dali, who was moving into position. The winger controlled the ball well and finished the action with a confident shot, giving his team the lead.
It seemed that this result would last until the end of the first half, but Zimbabwe’s players managed to surprise in the last minute of added time. They carried out a quick attack – Bill Antonio crossed the ball to Knowledge Musona, who received the ball perfectly and hit it at the long post, equalizing the score just before the break.
After the change of sides, the pace of the match was still high. In the 49th minute, Arubi had to save Jonathan Buatu’s shot. In the 56th minute, Freddy took a dangerous free kick, but the ball flew past the post. The Zimbabwean team also fought back – in the 63rd minute, Hugo Marques had to make a great save after Ishmael Wadi’s shot. In the very end, there were several clashes in front of the Angolan goal, but in the end the result did not change.
Thus, the match in Marrakech ended with a division of points, which puts both teams in a very difficult position in the perspective of the last series of matches.
However, the clash in Agadir promised to be much more interesting, where two teams that won three points in the first round faced each other. The Egyptians seemed to be the favorites, but the South African team was tormenting their rivals from the very first minutes.
First, however, it became dangerous after a free kick by Mohamed Salah, but none of his three teammates right in front of the goal managed to reach the ball. In response, Lyle Foster tried his luck after a quick counterattack, but the Burnley sniper’s shot fell to Mohamed El Shenawy.
Goal and red card. Scenes in the blockbuster African Cup of Nations
And key things happened just before the break. In the 42nd minute, after contact with Khuliso Mudau in the South African penalty area, Mohamed Salah fell to the turf. Replays clearly showed that the Liverpool forward had been hit in the face with a hand, and after a video review, the referee pointed to the eleventh meter. Salah turned out to be a reliable executioner, but the Egyptians’ joy did not last long.
Two minutes later, Mohamed Hany made no mistake and ruthlessly attacked Teboho Mokoena on the sideline. Without hesitation, the referee took a second yellow and, consequently, a red card from his pocket, and a spark broke between the players and coaches.
After the change of sides, the South African representatives took the initiative, but were unable to break the Egyptian defense. In the 79th minute, after an impressive play by Foster, Aubrey Modiba ran into the penalty area, but his shot was saved by El Shenawy.
Gigantic emotions. VAR was dealing the cards
But emotions reached their peak in added time. In the 93rd minute, after a shot by one of the opponents, Yasser Ibrahim played a handball in his own penalty area. The whole situation was considered by VAR for a long time, but ultimately the referees noticed an earlier foul and awarded a free kick to the Pharaohs. And with all the confusion, the match lasted over… 100 minutes! Already in the 102nd minute, Modiba was very close to equalizing.
The Egyptians ultimately withstood the pressure of their rivals until the end and after just two rounds they can be sure of advancing to the next stage of the African Cup of Nations. South Africa’s players must seal their promotion in the last series of group games, when they will face Zimbabwe.
