Libya hand Senegal another loss

 

Senegal ended their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations campaign bottom of Group A after a 2-1 loss at the hands of Libya in Bata on Sunday night.

 

Striker Ihab Albusaifi scored both of the North African side’s goals, though their victory was not enough to earn them a place in the quarterfinals after Zambia beat Equatorial Guinea to claim top spot in the pool.

 

Libya got off to the perfect start when they took the lead in just the fifth minute. Osman Saad showed good trickery on the edge of the penalty area before slipping a pass through for Ihab Albusaifi, who stabbed the ball past goalkeeper Khadim N’Diaye to make it 1-0.

 

Yet the North African side’s lead lasted just six minutes. Senegal struck back from a corner kick when Deme N’Diaye got his head to the ball and powered it home via the inside of the near post, beating a Libyan defender on the goal line.

 

The remainder of the first half was pretty scrappy and saw no further clear scoring opportunities. The sides went into the break locked at 1-1.

 

The second half picked up where the first left off, though Senegal had opportunities to move into the lead, particularly when Papiss Cisse raced through to be faced with only Libya goalkeeper Samir Abod to beat. However, the new Newcastle United striker put his long-range lob over the target.

 

The Teranga Lions created further chances, but again their misfiring strike force let the team down with some poor finishing.

 

Libya made the West Africans pay in the 84^th minute when Ahmed Zuway’s aerial strength allowed him to set up Albusaifi, who cracked the ball home on the volley from the middle of the penalty area to put the Mediterranean Knights 2-1 up.