Algeria stun Egypt, Cameroon win
SOUSSE, Tunisia (Reuters) -- Ten-man Algeria pulled off a shock 2-1 win over four-time champions Egypt in the African Nations Cup and Patrick Mboma scored a hat-trick as Cameroon beat Zimbabwe 5-3.
Substitute Hocine Achiou weaved his way through the Egypt defense and thumped the winner past Nader El Sayed in the 86th minute.
In the other match, 33-year-old Mboma took his tournament tally to four goals as Cameroon came from behind to trounce their southern African opponents.
Cameroon and Algeria have four points each from two games, Egypt have three points and Zimbabwe have none.
Egypt will almost certainly have to beat Cameroon on Tuesday to qualify while a draw against Zimbabwe will send Algeria through.
Algeria's win, in a fixture marked by a long history of trouble, delighted their supporters who had poured across the nearby border and began arriving at the ground hours before kickoff.
Egypt were often a class above their opponents and the match appeared to be theirs for the taking when Mamar Mamouni shoved Ahmed Hassan and received his second yellow card.
Mamouni had headed Algeria in front from a corner in the 13th minute before Belel ran on to an incisive pass by Tarek El Sayed and chipped in the equalizer in the 25th minute.
Flurry of chances
Egypt then took control the game and missed a flurry of chances but relaxed with their one-man advantage.
Algeria appeared resigned to a draw as they left Abdelmak Cherrad on his own up front but with four minutes left, striker Achiou sent the crowd wild as he scored the winner with a brilliant individual effort.
Defending champions Cameroon had been held 1-1 by Algeria in their opening match and the holders' campaign went from bad to worse with Zimbabwe skipper Peter Ndlovu's eighth-minute header.
But Mboma promptly hit two and made another for midfielder Modeste Mbami to put Cameroon firmly in the driving seat, despite Ndlovu scoring from the penalty spot two minutes after the re-start.
Mboma then completed his hat-trick and Mbami added his second of the afternoon as the Lions ripped Zimbabwe's defense to shreds.
Esrom Nyandoro scored a late third consolation goal for Zimbabwe.
"I'm pleased with the team's performance, despite the fact that we conceded three goals, perhaps through a lack of concentration and that really is a shame because goal difference could be important in the third match," Mboma said.
Off the field, Democratic Republic of Congo striker Lomana LuaLua was banned for three matches after being sent off in Wednesday's 3-0 defeat against hosts Tunisia.
LuaLua had to be restrained by his team mates as he lashed out at Tunisian players when he left the field. The incident held up play for five minutes.
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