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Soccer News of Friday, 4 January 2002

Source: bbc

Friendly International: Egypt 2 Ghana 0

Egypt 2- Khaled Bebo 42, Ahmed Salah Hosni 45
Ghana 0

Halftime: 2-0;
Attendance: 8,000

Egypt have given their African Nations Cup campaign a boost with a 2-0 victory over Ghana in a friendly in Ismailia. Khaled Bebo scored the first goal and Ahmed Salah Hosni added the second at the stroke of half time.

Bebo had an easily tap-in after the Ghanaian defence cleared poorly in the 40th minute.

It continues the striker's superb form after he scored a hat-trick in the Champions League final for Eygptian club 's Al Ahly three weeks ago.
Five minutes later Hosni latched onto a header from Ahmed Hossam to blast home the second goal.

It was a convincing victory for the Pharaohs.

But the Egyptians were lucky that the Ghanaians lost their shooting boots.

The Black Stars had a series of chances after Ibrahim Saeed was sent off for kicking Derrick Boateng in the second half.

Stalemate

The opportunities wasted by Alex Techie-Mensah and Matthew Amoah could have easily given the visitors an emphatic win.

Techie-Mensah twice had only the keeper to beat and Amoah headed wide from close range.

However, the Pharaohs could have added more to their tally had Bebo and Mohamed Barakat converted their chances in the first-half.

Tarek El Said took things too far and was booked in the 36th minute for diving in Ghana's penalty area.

Ghana seemed to run out of enthusiasm in the final stages and with Egypt happy to sit on their lead the game ended in something of a stalemate.