المجموعة الثالثة : مصر - نيجيريا - بنين - موزمبيق

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Benin Must Beat Egypt

Razak Omotoyossi of Benin evades the challenge of Joseph Yobo of Nigeria


January 19, 2010
Egypt go into their final 2010 Africa Cup of Nations Group C encounter against Benin knowing the pressure is off having already qualified for the quarterfinals, but for their opponents, there is still plenty to play for.
The Pharaohs sealed top spot in the group when they beat Mozambique on Saturday, and so even an unlikely heavy defeat to The Squirrels would not alter their status as group winners.
Benin need to win to have any chance of making the Last 8 however, and must then hope Mozambique pull off a surprise and defeat Nigeria.
Should this scenario come to fruition, both sides would finish on four points and as their head-to-head meeting was drawn, it would then come down to goal-difference.
Benin hold the slight advantage on that score as they sit on minus-one, while The Mambas are on minus-two.
Aiding Benin's task is the fact that Egypt coach Hassan Shehata has stated that he is likely to rotate his squad, resting some of his 'stars' to give others in the group a run-out. It seems highly-unlikely he will play striker who, aside from his tantrum thrown after being substituted against Mozambique, is also suffering from a stomach ailment.
"A few players will get their chance against Benin, we will probably make three or four changes," Shehata said. "[Goalkeeper] Essam Al Hadari will likely be rested and either Abdelwahed Al Sayed or Mahmoud Aboulsaoud could get the nod."
Benin coach Michel Dussuyer believes his side can still qualify for the quarterfinals and is looking for a big performance from the West Africans.
"We have not given up yet because we still have a match to play and if we get the results we wish for, we could still remain in the tournament. We will fight till the end," he said.

Limp Nigeria To Avoid Mamba Bite?

Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel


January 19, 2010
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been far from convincing during their first two games at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, and will need to turn in a better performance in their third and final group game against Mozambique on Wednesday evening in Benguela.
All Nigeria need is a draw to progress to the next round, while Mozambique need a win, having drawn their first game with Benin and lost their second to Egypt, where in both games their defensive frailties were badly exposed.
During the qualifiers for this tournament, Nigeria and Mozambique were in the same group and from those experiences where the Super Eagles were held to a goalless draw in Maputo and needed an injury-time winner to see off the Mambas by a single goal in Abuja, they will be aware that Mozambique on their day can be a tough assignment.
Nigeria managed a slim win over Benin in their second match in Angola and have themselves not looked a threatening force, but instead look a spent one.
It does not help Nigeria’s beleaguered coach Shuaibu Amodu that he could well be without defender Joseph Yobo for this crucial game against Mozambique.
But despite the possible absence of Yobo, Nigeria have plenty of back-up and they also need some of their other big names to stand up and be counted.
John Mikel Obi sparkled for a while against Egypt in the first game but the Chelsea midfielder fizzled away.
Even though they managed to defeat Benin in their last game, Nigeria were hardly convincing in dispatching The Squirrels.
Chinedu Obasi scored a superb goal during the 3-1 defeat to Egypt and has the potential to bag plenty of goals for the Super Eagles.
He has long complained that he has never been given a fair chance at international level, but if the Hoffenheim striker wants to be the first-choice attacker in South Africa at the World Cup he needs to score more goals in Angola.
The equation for Mozambique is simple – defeat Nigeria and you are on your way to the knock-out stages of the competition.
In three previous appearances at the Nations Cup, Mozambique exited the tournament at the group stage.
What would concern Mambas' Dutch coach Mart Nooij is the fact that his team have conceded two own goals in their two matches, both of which were scored by the same player, Dario Khan, against Benin and Algeria.
The time has come for Nooij to drop Khan and rope in an alternate defender who can do a better job; it was not just Khan who was at fault against Egypt as his entire team put up a lethargic and uninspired performance against The Pharaohs.
Mozambique needs Concalves and Tico-Tico, two of their most experienced players to help them unlock the Nigerian defence, who have shown that they can crumble under pressure.
While it will be up to Almiro ‘Miro’ Lobo and Simao Junior to do the tidying up job at the back.