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1999 News Clips...
JOHANNESBURG (June 20, 1999
2:01 p.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - Eritrea edged closer to a soccer fairytale on Sunday just 50 kilometers from a bloody border war.
The tiny East African state defeated Mozambique 1-0 in the final African Nations Cup Group
1 fixture to record its first success since entering international football a year ago.
Success before a capacity crowd at the Asmara Stadium lifted Eritrea above Mozambique into
second place. It will face Zimbabwe and Senegal during July and August for a place at the
2000 finals. Yonas Fishaye scored the only goal after 80 minutes to become an instant hero
in a country fighting an increasingly brutal war with southern neighbor Ethiopia. Both
countries claim to have killed and wounded thousands of enemy troops without revealing
their own casualty figures since war erupted in May 1998 over disputed land.
Eritrea, which held 1984 and 1988 Nations Cup winner Cameroon goalless in a previous home
match, hosts Zimbabwe on July 3 in the opening match of the playoffs. Senegal qualified as
runners-up to Burkina Faso in Group 5 after defeating Burundi 1-0 in Dakar through an
11th-minute goal from Belgian-based striker Salif Keita. Victory confirmed a gradual
improvement in the form of the Senegalese Lions since veteran German coach Peter
Schnittger
took charge last December following a 1-0 loss in Burundi.
Senegal begin their playoff programme at home to Eritrea in mid-July and face Zimbabwe
twice between August 1-7 in matches likely to determine who advances to the finals next
January.
Co-hosts Ghana and Nigeria, defending champions Egypt, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia and Zambia have booked
places at the biennial showcase
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