Aghahowa paves way for semis

He came on against Morocco in the final round of African Nations Cup group action last week and scored the late goal that clinched victory and condemned mighty Morocco to an early exit from the biennial championship.

Tuesday night, he went one better by snatching a late equaliser against Senegal in an explosive quarter-final here and grabbed the decisive goal one minute into extra time.

A 2-1 victory for the title favourites was marred by the late dismissal of mid-field magician Augustine `Jay Jay’ Okocha for elbowing Mbaye Badji and he automatically misses the semifinal against South Africa on Thursday.

Tunisia face Cameroon later the same day after causing the shock of the first knock-out phase byeliminating lacklustre defending champions Egypt 1-0 through Khaled Badra’s penalty in the northern city of Kano.

The semi-final losers play off for third place in Accra on Saturday and the winners meet on Sunday in Lagos to determine which National team is the best in Africa.

Nigeria lifted the Cup in Tunisia six years ago, but refused to defend it due to political differences with hosts South Africa, a decision that led to their suspension from the following edition in Burkino Faso.

Senegal went ahead after six minutes when Kalilou Fadiga, sentenced to one month in jail by a Belgian court recently for punching a football fan, punished slack marking to fire a low shot past statuesque Ike Shorinmu.

Constant Nigerian pressure created several near misses and it was Aghahowa who finally raised the crowd to its feet with six minutes of normal time left when he raced through and hammered a close-range shot past Oumar Diallo.

Rapidly-tiring Senegal were lucky to survive until extra time and it wasAghahowa who delivered the fatal blow when a cross fell kindly for him and he wrongfooted Diallo before stroking the ball home.

The goal triggered a pitch invasion by Nigerian supporters who mistakenly thought the `golden goal’ rule applied and mounted police took 12 minutes to restore order.

Extra time proved an anti-climax as physically and mentally-drained Senegal had little to offer in attack and Nigeria comfotably held on for a showdown with Bafana Bafana.

Egypt, so impressive when winning their three group matches, made a timid departure as Tunisia sat back and soaked up the pressure after the penalty awarded for an Ibrahim Said foul on Tarek Thabet.

Even regular saviour Hossam Hassan could do little and Tunisian ‘keeper Chokri al-Duaer was seldon troubled after pushing away an early second-half free-kick from the Egyptian captain.

The match was a poor advertisement for African football with continuous stoppages for fouls and injuries and French referee Alian Sars had a sore hand by the endhaving written nine players into his book.