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– A bit of handbags at the halftime whistle as the players sling insults and there is some shoving. It was not a great half of football, despite the early goals. It is a game that is there for the taking though. Let's hope for more quality in the second per |
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– Senegal will attempt to salvage some pride from a disastrous African Nations Cup campaign when they take on Libya in their last group match in Bata. |
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– Libya bow out of the competition on a high, while Senegal suffer a third successive loss. You would have got long odds on that before the tournament started, but they have been poor and were again tonight. |
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– It is a game without any likely impact on the tournament and will almost certainly be the last for both teams at the competition. |
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– Libya still have an outside mathematical chance of progressing to the quarter-finals but Senegal are out after losing their opening two matches. |
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– The Lions of Teranga had been one of the pre-tournament favourites but now the future of their coach Amara Traore is in doubt, their team might be dismantled and key striker Moussa Sow has already left the tournament, to finalise a transfer from French ch |
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1’ – We are under way in Bata! |
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2’ – The pitch looks heavy, not surprising given all the rain we have had here. Going to be difficult to pass tonight. |
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5’ – Senegal have made six changes to their side for this one, not easy to know how they are going to go. Libya simply must win. |
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5’ – Ihab Albousaifi (Libya) scores! |
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6’ – Osman showed good trickery on the edge of the box and slipped the ball through for Albusaifi, who nets his first goal for the North African side. What a start! |
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11’ – Deme N'Diaye (Senegal) scores! |
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11’ – Senegal hit back almost immediately as Deme N'Diaye rises highest from the corner to head home. Barely a celebration from the ousted Senegalese. |
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13’ – Omar Daf (Senegal) is cautioned. |
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14’ – Are you ready for this? Just a reminder that Libya will advance to the quarterfinals as the second-placed team in the group if they defeat Senegal and Equatorial Guinea defeat Zambia, and the combined margin of the two wins is at least three goals, or Lib |
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14’ – ... or Libya score at least three more goals than Zambia do, or
the combined margin of the two wins is exactly two goals and Libya score exactly two more goals than Zambia do. |
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14’ – Libya will then need to prevail via the Fair Play Rule. But let's cross that bridge when we come to it. |
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18’ – Senegal are starting to settle into this now and have another corner. They scored from their last one ... |
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18’ – ... this time Libya are able to clear. |
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20’ – Another two corners in quick succession or the Senegalese, but the Libyans have sorted out their organisation now and defend them well. |
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22’ – Still no score in Malabo where Equatorial Guinea take on Zambia. As it stands, both those teams go through, the hosts as pool winners. |
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26’ – Libya with a rare chance to put the ball into the Senegal box from a free-kick ... but it is awful and goes way over the top. |
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29’ – Unlucky for Osman, as his ball over the top of the defence is just too long for the rampaging El Mughrabi. In a game that has lacked inspiration so far, he has been head and shoulders above the rest. |
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31’ – Djamal has a dip from 35-yards but that was always drifting wide. |
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33’ – Camara forces a decent save from Abod, who tips his low drive around the post. |
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34’ – Off the line! From the corner the ball is deep, but headed back into the mix. Niang tries a over-head kick that he partially connects with and the ball beats the keeper, but not Shibani on the line! |
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39’ – Kader Mangane (Senegal) is cautioned. |
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40’ – Free-kick to Libya on the left-hand side of the goal but it eludes everyone and Senegal clear. |
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43’ – Libya are committing offence after offence, but the referee Seechurn Rajindraparsad from Mauritius is obviously in a lenient mood. It is spoiling the flow of the game though. |
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43’ – The two cards he has handed out have gone to Senegalese players. Very odd. |
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45’ – We will have one minute of injury-time. |
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45 + 1’ – Mohamed El Mughrabi (Libya) is cautioned. |
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45 + 1’ – Finally his patience runs out. Ours ran out long ago! |
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45 + 1’ – The referee brings the first half to an end. |
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46’ – Senegal Substitution: Papiss Demba Cisse replaces Demba Ba |
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46’ – We are back under way! Just one sub at the break, Newcastle forward replacing Newcastle forward ... |
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48’ – Deme Ndiaye finds himself in acres of space at the back post but he cannot either get a shot on target or cross the ball back into play. |
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51’ – The pattern of the first half continues, Senegal pressing, Libya trying to catch them on the break and giving away plenty of free-kicks ... |
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53’ – Deme N'Diaye (Senegal) is cautioned. |
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54’ – Free-kick to Libya on the right-hand side of the box ... terrible delivery and it is cleared. |
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56’ – Senegal's turn to have a free-kick on the left-hand side of the box this time ... Niang's effort is put behind for a corner. |
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56’ – Goalkeeper is fouled from the corner delivery and a free-kick is given to Libya. |
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58’ – Libya Substitution: Marwan Ahmed Mabrouk replaces Mohamed Esnani |
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61’ – Camara deflects Zuway's shot over for a Libyan corner ... and guess what. The referee's whistle goes for a foul in the area. Goodness this is dull. |
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62’ – Libya Substitution: Abdallah Al Sherif replaces Abubaker Suiuenei Obaidy |
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63’ – Dangerous free-kick to Senegal on the edge of the area for a foul on Cisse by El Mughrabi ... |
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64’ – Deme N'Diaye's effort is straight into the wall ... |
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67’ – Zuway's shot deflects off Camara and that was tricky for Diakhate, who managed to grab the ball. It might have been going wide in any event. |
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68’ – Senegal Substitution: Moussa Sow replaces Mamadou Niang |
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68’ – Libya Substitution: Rabee’a al-Laafi replaces Abdulaziz Belrrish |
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70’ – News from Malabo is that Zambia lead through Chris Katongo. That looks like all she wrote for Libya ... |
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71’ – Cisse with a great chance for Senegal, he is put through by Sow and opts to go for the chip from range over the advancing goalkeeper, but his effort is wayward. |
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73’ – Osman with a fine run and perhaps he should have taken the shot on. Instead he passes to Salama, whose shot is well, well wide. |
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75’ – Senegal Substitution: Issiar Dia replaces Deme N'Diaye |
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78’ – Corner for Libya ... Zuway gets a header on target, but it is straight at Diakhate. |
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80’ – Oh dear. Sow goes on a super run down the middle and looks to play the ball into Cisse in acres of space, but he hits it way, way too hard and the Newcastle man has no chance. A shocker of a final ball! Fenerbahce fans look away! |
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84’ – Ihab Albousaifi (Libya) scores! |
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84’ – Out of nothing! Shocking defending from M'Bengue who fails to get any power on his clearing header and Zuway cushions a cross for Albousaifi to volley home. A very good finish and Libya lead! |
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85’ – Senegal rightfully denied an equaliser as Cisse's shot is parried by Abod into the path of Camara, who rifles the ball home. However, he WAS in an offside position when the initial shot came in. |
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90’ – A rfeminder that Libya's last Nations Cup finals victory came in the 1982 semifinals when they defeated Zambia, the team that have broken their hearts tonight. Still, nice to end a 30-year wait ... |
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90 + 2’ – We will have three minutes of injury-time.
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90 + 4’ – The referee blows the whistle for Full Time. |
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