Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Cameroon wins, Egypt draws to advance to quarterfinals at African Cup

KUMASI, Ghana (AP) -- Defending champion Egypt and four-time winner Cameroon both reached the African Cup of Nations quarterfinals on Wednesday, with Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o setting a tournament record with his 16th career goal.

Eto'o scored twice, including a 27th-minute penalty, in the 3-0 win over Sudan in Tamale, giving him two goals more than Ivory Coast striker Laurent Pokou's previous mark. "There is always something to work on," Cameroon coach Otto Pfister said. "Of course I am happy. We are qualified. It wasn't very spectacular, but now we will prepare for our quarterfinal."

Cameroon will play the winner of Group D, while Egypt will meet the runner-up. Tunisia leads Angola on goal differential atop Group D, and the two face off Thursday in their final first-round games.

Mohamed Ali Khider scored an own-goal to give Cameroon a 2-0 halftime lead, and Eto'o added his second in injury time. Part of Cameroon's African Cup-winning side in 2000 and 2002, Eto'o leads all scorers with five goals through three games.

In Kumasi, Amr Zaki converted Sayed Moawad's left-footed cross to put Egypt in front in the 16th minute. But Christopher Katongo scored a late goal to earn Zambia a 1-1 draw.

"As a team we take this a failure," Zambia captain Katongo said. "As an individual, I don't think I failed. I have shown people what I can do."

Wednesday's win finished Cameroon with six points, one point behind Egypt in Group C.

Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Guinea and host Ghana all had perviously qualified for the last eight.

Cameroon will stay in the northern Ghana town of Tamale for its Monday quarterfinal. Egypt will play the Group D runner-up in Kumasi the same day.

Zambia, a losing finalist in 1974 and 1994, was eliminated and joined 1970 champion Sudan on the sideline.


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