Cote d’ Ivoire in narrow win over Egypt

Cote d’Ivoire scored a late goal to claim a 1-0 win over Egypt in a group B match played on Wednesday in Marrakech. Moussa Kone hit the winner in the 82nd after running onto a back heeled pass from Lacina Traore. Kone ‘s shot from close ranch bet Ghazi Mohamed in goal for Egypt.  The first twenty minutes of the match saw the sides size each other and there was not much to write home about in this early stage. The sides’ passing and accuracy improved with play as the teams settled down but the goal scoring chances were not far and few. Gradually the pace picked up and the first real goal scoring chance went to Magdy Ahmed Mohamed but his shot was saved keeper Clovis Tahourou and Hassan Abdallah could not steer the follow up. Soon after Salah Ghaly went on a run beating some players but went down easily in the box earning a yellow card. After the two group games in Marrakech , Cote d’ Ivoire is now on four points , Egypt on three, South Africa two and Gabon on one point  with only the last group game to go. The improved  flowing football from  both sides picked up and Cote d’ Ivoire dominated the exchanges with Wakalible Lago, Kone  and Lacina Traore linking up well. Vamouti Diomande set up Kone but the latter blazed his shot wide and at the other end Magdy could not convert from close range as the entertainment factor went a notch up. Having controlled the midfield Egypt soon found themselves chasing the game as the Ivorians ran rings in midfield and carving some scoring chances. After going down to the Kone goal Egypt went in search of the equalizer and should have been level when Gomaa Saleh miscued his shot and it sailed over the cross bar. Then  Mohamed El Neny send his shot just wide during a rich period for the Pharaohs. The game had opened up at this stage with both sides going close.