Libya bag fourth spot at CHAN 2018

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Saturday Feb 03, 2018. 23:08

Libya succumbed to a 4-2 loss on penalties to Sudan in their third-place play-off at the 2018 CAF African Nations Championship on Saturday at Stade Marrakech.

The loss means the 2014 champions have settled for a fourth place in the tournament.

After regulation time, the clash finished at 1-1 and Libya converted through Moftah Taktak and Abdelsalam Alaqoub whilst Almehdi Elhouni and Salem Ablo saw their kicks saved.

For the Falcons of Jediane, Mohamed Tahir, Mohamed Babikir, Mahmoud Ahmed and Maaz Gesalla's penalties ensured Sudan were victorious.

The Mediterranean Knights had a bright start in the encounter as they put more pressure on the Falcons of Jediane.

However, it was Sudan who bagged the lead against the run of play when a long ball into the penalty area found Walaa Eldin Yagoub in the eighth minute and his header beat Abdalla Nashnush on his right corner.

As coach Zdravko Logarusic’s men continued to display good touches in the heart of the park, Elmutasem Abushnaf saw his header going wide in the 25th minute from a cross on the left flank.

Despite coach Omar Elmaryami’s troops intensifying their probe for an equaliser, it was 1-0 at half time.

The North Africans upped the ante in the 70th minute as substitute Ablo unleashed a rocket from the edge of the area, but Akram punched away and Taktak’s follow up went wide.

Akram was the man separating Libya and a goal as he denied Ablo for the second time in the 75th minute from point blank range to concede a corner.

However, Ablo would finally make it 1-1 in the 84th minute when his header beat Akram resulting from an accurate cross down the right wing.

Sudan: (1) 1 (Walaa Eldin 8’)
Libya: (0) 1 (Ablo 84’)

Sudan: Akram, Abuaagla (Bisha 78’), Morsal, Saifeldin, Tahir, Elhag, Yagoub (Maaz 53’), Babikir, Mahmoud, Ismaeil, Abdalla

Libya: Nashnush, Ajbarah, Muftah (Ablo 46’), Alharash (Saleh 53’), Taktak, Elhouni, Madeen, Etrbi, Bader (Alaqoub 79’), Abushnaf