Nigeria ignored a soccer fundamental — always play to the whistle — and it cost them dearly in a 1-1 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying draw with Egypt on Friday.
The Super Eagles deserved to be more than one goal ahead at an overcrowded Ahmadu Bello Stadium as the high-profile Group G clash drifted into stoppage-time.
However, a pass from substitute Ramadan Sobhy caught the defense napping and as they stood appealing for offside, Mohamed Salah equalized.
Photo: EPA
Oghenekaro Etebo, a star when Nigeria won the U23 Africa Cup of Nations three months ago, pounced on a rebound off the woodwork to break the stalemate on the hour.
Victor Moses thought he had scored a second six minutes from time after rounding goalkeeper Ahmed Al Shenawy and pushing the ball toward an unguarded goal.
However, Hamada Tolba darted back to make a dramatic clearance under pressure just before the ball crossed the line.
Salvaging a point kept record seven-times African champions Egypt two points ahead of three-times winners Nigeria halfway through the six-round qualifying schedule.
Egypt have seven points, Nigeria five, Tanzania four and Chad none in the so-called “group of death.”
The teams clash again on Tuesday and a win for the Pharaohs would all but seal a slot at the tournament in Gabon next year.
The 13 group winners are guaranteed places at the biennial African soccer showpiece, while the best two runners-up also qualify.
Defending champions Ivory Coast went to the top of Group I with a labored 1-0 win over second-placed Sudan via an opening-half goal from Gervinho.
Ivory Coast, who last year lifted the trophy a second time after a decade of underachievement, missed injured captain Yaya Toure.
Ivory Coast have four points, Sudan three and Sierra Leone one in the only three-team mini-league.
Swaziland, one of 16 African nations never to qualify for the tournament, stayed top of Group L on goals scored, despite being held 1-1 at home by second-placed Zimbabwe.
The hosts made a dream start as Felix Badenhorst nodded home a cross just 90 seconds after the kick-off at Somhlolo Stadium.
Zimbabwe recovered to dominate the first half, but their equalizer a minute before halftime came gift-wrapped from Swaziland, with Njabulo Ndlovu conceding an own-goal.
Guinea and Malawi failed to take advantage of the Swaziland stalemate by drawing 0-0.
Swaziland and Zimbabwe have five points each, while Malawi and top seeds Guinea have two apiece.
Mauritania joined Cameroon at the top of Group M after snatching a 2-1 victory over Gambia through a stoppage-time goal from Bessam.
He put the hosts ahead during the opening half and Mustapha Carayol, from English second-tier club Leeds United, leveled on the hour.
Cameroon and Mauritania have six points each, while Gambia and South Africa have one each.
Youssef Msakni nodded in just after halftime to give Tunisia a 1-0 win over Togo and top place in Group A on goal-difference.
Tunisia, Togo and Liberia all have six points, while Djibouti have lost their three matches.
The biggest win came in the final match, with winger Sofiane Feghouli and Islam Slimani bagging braces as Algeria crushed Ethiopia 7-1, despite Yacine Brahimi failing to convert a penalty.
Algeria have a maximum nine points in Group J, Ethiopia four, Seychelles one and Lesotho none.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping