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Sports News of Monday, 28 February 2000

Source: reuters & www.sportserver.com

Ghana still alive in Olympic race

Ghana snatched a dramatic 2-1 win over Guinea in Conakry on Sunday to keep alive its hopes of a third consecutive appearance at the Olympic Games soccer tournament.
The Black Meteors fell behind after 37 minutes of the Group B qualifying match when goalkeeper Sammy Adjei conceded an own-goal and Greece-based Baffour Gyan leveled before halftime.
Guinea seemed set to end a three-match losing streak until Osei Kwame scored with just two minutes left to nudge Ghana into second place behind Cameroon.

Ghana: Sammy Adjei, Copson, Gyan, Amoako, Rahman, Razak/Hamza, Ablordey/Lawrence Adjei, Skelly/Arhin-Duah, Eklu, Felix Yeboah.

South Africa began the weekend as leaders only to stumble 2-0 in Yaounde against Cameroon, with Patrick Suffo scoring after four minutes and Ze Albert Meyongue adding a second six minutes into the second half.
Cameroon has nine points and Ghana and South Africa seven each, and similar goal differences with two rounds left of a competition restricted to players born on or after Jan. 1, 1977.
Morocco maintained its leadership of Group C with a comfortable 2-0 win over Tunisia in Casablanca through first-half goals from Abdelfettah al-Khattari and Issam al-Baroudi.
The Moroccans lead Egypt by two points and Cote d'Ivoire by four after two goals from Abdelaziz Ayman enabled the Egyptians to beat the Ivorians 2-1 in Cairo. Antonin "Tony" Koutouan scored a consolation goal for the visitors.
Nigeria looked anything but defending Olympic champion as it labored to a 1-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Uganda in Lagos through a late goal from James Obiora.
The result was sufficient, however, to bring the Nigerians level in Group A with Zimbabwe, which crashed 4-2 in Angola to suffer its first mini-league reverse.
Qatar-based striker Fabrice "Akwa" Maieco was the three-goal hero of Angola, with Jose de Almeida also on target. Walter Tshuma had put Zimbabwe ahead twice during a lively opening half.
Summary of Results:

Group B

In Conakry, Sunday: Guinea 1 Ghana 2
In Yaounde, Saturday: Cameroon 2 South Africa 0

Standings
1. Cameroon 4 3 0 1 7 3 9
2. Ghana 4 2 1 1 7 5 7
3. South Africa 4 2 1 1 7 5 7
4. Guinea 4 0 0 4 2 10 0
Next matches: Cameroon v Guinea, Yaounde, March 11
South Africa v Ghana, Vosloorus, March 11

Group A

In Lagos, Saturday: Nigeria 1 Uganda 0
In Luanda, Saturday: Angola 4 Zimbabwe 2


Standings P W D L F A Pts 1. Zimbabwe 4 3 0 1 10 7 9
2. Nigeria 4 3 0 1 7 4 9
3. Angola 4 2 0 2 9 8 6
4. Uganda 4 0 0 4 3 10 0

Next matches: Angola v Nigeria, Luanda, March 11
Zimbabwe v Uganda, Harare, March 12 - - - -

Group C

In Cairo, Sunday: Egypt 2 Ivory Coast 1
In Casablanca, Sunday: Morocco 2 Tunisia 0


Standings

 1. Morocco 4 3 0 1 8 6 9 2. Egypt 4 2 1 1 7 6 7 3. Ivory Coast 4 1 2 1 9 7 5 4. Tunisia 4 0 1 3 4 9 1
Next matches: Egypt v Morocco, Cairo, March 12
Ivory Coast v Tunisia, Abidjan, March 12 - - - -


Note: Group winners qualify for the finals in Sydney in September. The best placed runner-up will meet New Zealand in a play-off over two legs for a place in the finals.