African Nations Championship: Libya hit back to draw with Ghana, Congo shock Ethiopia

BLOEMFONTEIN

A Ghanaian player in a past contest. [PHOTO: COURTESY]

Congo have virtually eliminated Ethiopia from the African Nations Championship after a 1-0 win on Friday, while Congo sent Ethiopia packing with a 1-0 win in Bloemfontein.

Libya have four points from two matches after they beat Ethiopia 2-0 in their opening group game.

Ghana also have four points and are second in the group after they defeated Congo by a lone goal in their first match.

Congo are now third on the table on three points after they upset Ethiopia 1-0 in the late game.

The match winner was a 78th minute strike by Rudy Ndey, who controlled the ball inside the box before he shot past goalkeeper Jemal Tassew, who pulled off several saves before then.

Ethiopia, wwwho were beaten by Nigeria in the playoffs for the 2014 World Cup in November, were wasteful in front of goal especially in the first half.

Ghana took the lead in the sixth minute against Libya through a powerful header from inside the box by man of the match Yahaya Mohammed.

However, Libya fought back and deserved their equaliser in the 72nd minute through a penalty converted by Faisel Ali Saleh after a Libyan was upended inside the box.

Ghana will face Ethiopia in their final group game on Tuesday, but without the outstanding Yahaya Mohammed, who received his second booking of the tournament.

Elsewhere,Mozambique will look to avoid three straight defeats when they face Mali in their final group match at the Athlone Stadium today.

Mambas are currently at the bottom of Group A with no points on the board after suffering back-to-back defeats, losing 3-1 to South Africa and 4-2 to Nigeria.

                      ––AFP and BBC