Tau and South Africa shock Salah and Egypt
In the name of Percy Tau, amen! The Lion of Judah and his South African teammates pulled off the biggest shock of the African Cup of Nations so far as they eliminated hosts and favourites Egypt in the round of 16.
The Pharaohs were undone by Thembinkosi Lorch’s 85th minute strike for Bafana Bafana, which proved to be the only goal of the game in front of a stunned home crowd in Cairo.
As they have done throughout the tournament so far, South Africa set out to play on the counter attack. They were disciplined in keeping their shape and looked to utilise the pace and ability of Tau and Lorch on the break.
In their match report, Eurosport said of Tau and Lorch, “The pair did everything Mo Salah and Trezeguet didn’t; running directly at the heart of the Egypt defence and causing havoc all night.” Perhaps the Lion of Judah could win the Ballon d’Or this year.
He tested Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy twice in the first half, the second of those efforts being an excellent free kick which was only just tipped around the post by El-Shenawy. We make no apology for again compaing Tau’s set piece prowess to that of Paul Watson.
Egypt meanwhile relied on Salah to try and find a way through. Surprisingly, the Pharaohs’ talisman didn’t throw himself to the ground at every opportunity as he does in Liverpool colours and did fashion a few good chances but nobody wearing red could find a way through a resolute South African defence or goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The hosts poured forward in search of a win in the final 15 minutes and that proved to be their downfall. South Africa duly launched a sweeping counter and a wonderful team move was ended by Lebo Mothiba feeding Lorch to score.
Tau and South Africa will march onto face Leon Balogun’s Nigeria in the quarter finals on Wednesday. The Super Eagles knocked out holders Cameroon in a thoroughly entertaining second round tie which ended 3-2.
Neither Balogun nor Gaetan Bong started the game. For Bong, that came as a little surprise given that he’d played only 74 minutes of the tournament so far when starting in the Indomitable Lions’ second group game against Ghana.
Balogun meanwhile was dropped by Nigeria after he was at fault for one of Madagascar’s goals in their shock 2-0 defeat to the minnows in the final round of group games.
Balogun did make it onto the pitch for the final few seconds against Cameroon as a 91st minute substitute for Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi but by that point, the drama was all but over.
Stephane Bahoken and Clinton Njie had sent Cameroon into half-time with a 2-1 lead after Odion Ighalo had put Nigeria ahead in Alexandria.
Two goals in three second half minutes swung the game back in Nigeria’s favour. Ighalo equalised with 63 played and then on 66, Iwobi scored what proved to be the winner to end Cameroon’s defence of the title.
Hosts out. Holders out. The African Cup of Nations is well and truly up for grab now. Praise be the Lion of Judah.
