EQYPT STORM INTO QUARTERS

NADER al-Sayed had the rare experience of collecting the ball from the back of the net as defending champions Egypt stormed into the African Cup of Nations quarterfinals on Tuesday. Al-Sayed surrendered a 489-minute unbeaten record spanning two editions of the biennial football showcase on Tuesday when Ismael Koudou of Burkina Faso blasted the ball past him from close range after nine minutes. Egypt fell further behind in the northern Nigerian city of Kano before staging a magnificent comeback to win 4-2 and complete their Group C programme with a 100% record. Surprise packets Senegal joined the Pharaohs in the knock-out phase after drawing 2-2 with Zambia in Lagos to finish runners-up with Zambia third and Burkina Faso last. Top place means Egypt stay in Kano for a match on Monday against the Group D runners-up while Senegal remain in Lagos to face the Group D winners the same day. Co-hosts Nigeria and star-studded Morocco are the likeliest qualifiers from the Group of Death at the expense of Tunisia and Congo after the concluding mini-league matches on Thursday.