‘UNHAPPY’ PHARAOHS
Lacklustre Egypt look to improve their form in Cup of Nations knockouts
Abidjan, Ivory Coast - Egypt are aware that they will have to improve their performance radically if they want to progress further in the Africa Cup of Nations after they reached the last 16 by drawing all three of their Group B games, stand-in captain Ahmed Hegazy said.
Cape Verde's Bryan Teixeira scored a 99th-minute equaliser as they held record seven-time champions 2-2. Cape Verde had already been confirmed as group winners before a ball was kicked and took the lead against the run of play through striker Benchimol at the end of the first half.
Egypt hit back five minutes into the second period when Mahmoud Trezeguet produced a neat finish from a tight angle, before Mostafa Mohamed thought he had won the game in added-time after racing onto a long pass to score but Teixeira had the final say.
Cape Verde claimed Group B top spot with seven points from their three games followed by Egypt on three points.
They still went through after Mozambique netted two late goals to earn a 2-2 draw with Ghana, with both sides finishing on two points in Group B.
However, for a team
We have to improve. Our team boast high-profile players who should carry out their responsibilities better. In the coming games, we will not have a chance to make up AHMED HEGAZY
of
Egypt's pedigree, such a run raises serious doubts over their ability to clinch a record-extending eighth Nations Cup title.
"We are very unhappy with our results in the group stage.
We need to fix aspects of our game," Hegazy, who wore the captain's armband after Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah was ruled out of the game due to a hamstring injury, told bein
Sports.
"We have to improve. Our team boast high-profile players who should carry out their responsibilities better. In the coming games, we will not have a chance to make up (for any slipup)," added the central defender, who plays for Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad.
Egypt looked largely toothless in a disappointing first half and were porous at the back as Gilson Tavares put Cape Verde ahead just before the break with a fine shot on the turn.
The second-half introduction of winger Mahmoud Trezeguet gave Egypt a much-needed boost and he made an immediate impact, levelling the score from a narrow angle on 50 minutes. He also set up striker Mostafa Mohamed for a second with a delightful long pass three minutes into stoppage time but some poor goalkeeping and slack defending gifted Cape Verde an equaliser at the death through Bryan Teixeira.