Egypt boosts chances with late strike

PORT GENTIL — Egypt needed a goal two minutes from time by substitute Abdallah El Said to beat Uganda 1-0, a result that ensured the East African side would be the first team eliminated from Group D of the African Nations Cup finals in Gabon at the Stade de Port Gentil on Saturday. Ghana became the second side to book a quarterfinal place at the when they edged Mali 1-0 in the other group match. Experienced forward Asamoah Gyan grabbed the only goal of the game to become his country's leading all-time scorer in the continental championship with an eighth career strike across six tournaments. Ghana lead the pool with six points from two games, followed by Egypt with four, Mali one and Uganda zero. Ghana rode their luck against Mali but joined Group B side Senegal in the next round and now face a shootout for top spot in the group with Egypt on Wednesday. West Ham striker Andre Ayew missed a sitter when he shot wide of an open goal, but four minutes later Ghana were ahead as his younger brother Jordan Ayew whipped in a cross for Gyan to powerfully head home. It looked as though Egypt were headed for a second successive 0-0 draw but were rewarded for their persistence when El Said drilled the ball through the legs of Uganda keeper Denis Onyango after being teed up by Mohamed Salah. Egypt's Argentine coach Hector Cuper was relieved his side pulled off the win in testing conditions. "It was difficult on that pitch and in this climate but we won and that is the important thing," he said. Gabon face a date with destiny on Sunday when they seek to avoid becoming the fourth host nation to bow out of the finals at the group stage in the 60-year history of the tournament. Only a victory over Group A leaders Cameroon in Libreville would ensure their passage into the quarterfinals, though a draw could be enough if Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau finish all-square in the other match in Franceville. Early elimination for the hosts threatens to put a dampener on a tournament struggling to fill stadiums and engender fervor among the local population. Gabon's opening two matches were both disappointing draws, with Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — a talismanic figure for the team — scoring in each but ultimately failing to make an impact. Burkina Faso have also started the tournament with two 1-1 draws while Guinea Bissau have a single point. They can advance and keep up their fairytale run only if they beat Burkina Faso for what would be only their eighth ever victory in a competitive international since they became FIFA members in 1986. — AFP