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| Egypt ease past Sweden |
2/9/2007 |
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African champions Egypt eased to a 2-0 win over Sweden in an international friendly in Cairo on Wednesday.
Striker Amr Zaki had sent the hosts into the lead with a first-half header and Ahmed Fathi sealed the victory with a powerful shot three minutes before time.
The match marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the African Football Confederation (Caf) and was attended by the organisation''s president Issa Hayatou.
The goals were among the few sparkling moments of a match dominated by ineffective passing and toothless attacks except the last 20 minutes when the hosts upped the tempo and scored their second goal.
Sweden failed to trouble the Egyptian defence, their only threat being a 36th-minute shot by Kim Kallstrom saved well by goalkeeper Essam el-Hadary.
The hosts took the lead eight minutes later when Zaki, who plays for local side Zamalek, rose unmarked to Ahmed Hassan''s cross and headed home past goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson, sparking celebrations among some 40,000 supporters.
Fathi wrapped up the victory when he forced his way into the penalty area and fired a powerful left-foot shot past helpless substitute keeper Rami Shaaban.
Caf will organise a series of events this month in Sudan and Ethiopia to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
South Africa, the fourth founding member, will host another series of festivities in October.
Meanwhile, some African countries were involved in friendly matches on Wednesday.
Senegal beat Benin 2-1 in a hurriedly-arranged match in the French town of Rouen.
Pape Demba Toure opened the scoring for the Teranga Lions after ten minutes.
Italy-based Waigo Ndiaye the lead in the 64th minute with Razak Omotoyossi getting the consolation for Benin with only ten minutes remaining.
Cameroon needed a 90th minute strike to salvage a 2-2 draw away to Togo.
Daniel Ngom Kome''s strike saved the blushes of the Indomitable Lions after first-half goals by Salifu Mustapha and Olufade Adekambi.
Jean-Paul Boya pulled one back for Cameroon before Kome levelled in the first match in charge for coach Stephen Keshi since his return to the Hawks.
Issam Jemaa converted a second-half penalty to help Tunisia hold Morocco to a 1-1 draw in Rabat.
The home side dominated the early exchanges and grabbed the opener thanks to a Marouane Chamakh strike on the half hour mark before Jemaa scored.
Gambia surrendered a first-half lead as they went down 2-1 to Luxembourg.
The west Africans opened the scoring in the 15th minute thanks to a Mustapha Jarju strike.
Luxembourg emerged for the second half, looking to capitalise from their newfound confidence, and they were rewarded for their efforts with goals from Aurelien Joachi and Chris Sagramola.
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