Mido spurs Egypt to opening-game win over Libya

Egypt striker Mido headed an early goal to set the hosts on their way to a 3-0 win over Libya in the opening game of the African Nations Cup yesterday. The Tottenham Hotspur player put Egypt ahead in the 18th minute before Mohamed Aboutrika added a...

Egypt striker Mido headed an early goal to set the hosts on their way to a 3-0 win over Libya in the opening game of the African Nations Cup yesterday.

The Tottenham Hotspur player put Egypt ahead in the 18th minute before Mohamed Aboutrika added a second goal in the Group A match with a superb free kick four minutes later.

Ahmed Hassan scored the third in the 78th minute from a rebound after a Mido penalty was saved by Libya's reserve goalkeeper Muftzah Ghzalla, who had come on seconds earlier following the dismissal of Luis de Agustini.

Despite the importance of the match, the stadium was only around three-quarters full with swathes of empty seats behind one of the goals.

The match was refereed by Lassina Pare of Burkina Faso whose twin brother Lossene was one of the linesmen.

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