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Egypt into final after Mido, penalty row
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-08 08:45
CAIRO, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Egypt overcame a tantrum from top striker Mido and
escaped what appeared to be a clear injury-time penalty against them to beat
Senegal 2-1 in their African Nations Cup semi-final on Tuesday.
Egypt's mido argues
with his coach Shehata during match against Senegal in Cairo.
[Reuters] | The
hosts will face Ivory Coast in Friday's final after Didier Drogba's third goal
of the tournament gave the Elephants a 1-0 win over Nigeria in the other match.
Amr Zaki headed Egypt's winner in the 81st minute, scoring with his first
touch of the ball after replacing Mido.
But Senegal were furious when Diomansy Kamara appeared to be tripped by
Ibrahim Said as he charged into the penalty area in injury-time.
At first, referee Divine Evehe of Cameroon appeared to point to the penalty
spot and the Senegalese substitutes jumped off the bench celebrating.
But the official then signalled a goal kick.
"Of course, we were robbed," said Kamara. "It was a clear penalty, you can
look at the pictures. The referee has to whistle for it, the rule is the same
for everyone whether it is at home or away.
"African football officials have to take another look at the African game
because Europeans are going to laugh at us if the refereeing is like that," said
striker El Hadji Diouf.
Mido, who made a negligible contribution as he returned from injury, was
involved in a furious altercation with coach Hassan Shehata on the touchline as
he was taken off.
He had to be restrained by two team mates as the argument threatened to turn
into physical aggression.
But as he left the stadium two hours later after being chosen for the doping
test, Mido implied that his coach had been right.
"They (Egypt) had a lot of chances after I was substituted," he told Reuters.
"I hope we can win the final, it's very important for us."
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