BENGUELA: Two-time defending champion Egypt advanced to the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations, beating Mozambique 2-0 Saturday after an own-goal from Dario Khan and a strike from substitute Mohammed Gedo.
Mozambique defender Khan put Ahmed Fathi s cross into his own net in the 47th minute. Gedo struck a left-footed volley in the 81st to give the Egyptians six points in Group C with one match left to play.
Earlier, World Cup qualifier Nigeria beat Benin 1-0 and is second with three points. Benin and Mozambique have one point each.
After a slow start, Mozambique s Goncalves Fumo tested goalkeeper Essam Al-Hadari with a left-footed volley from 20 meters but he easily held the shot.
Mozambique goalkeeper Kampango dived to his right to keep out Emad Moteab s strike in the 19th. Mahmoud Shikabala then forced another diving save from Kampango in the 25th after firing from 20 meters.
Shikabala and Moteab had a chance each in the next five minutes but again failed to beat Kampango.
Egypt should have taken the lead in the 45th minute off a set piece but Moteab s shot from the edge of the box was stopped by Kampango.
Mozambique s Tico-Tico had an opportunity in the 53rd after a long-range shot that took a deflection, but he fired the rebound wide.
Lobo s 58th-minute effort was ruled out for an offside.
Still, Mozambique did not take its chances. Sitoe s free kick flew wide past Al-Hadari in the 73rd, and Hagi squandered another equalizing chance three minutes later by putting his close-range shot wide.
Egypt took control of the game after Khan s own-goal. Moteab started the move that led to the second goal, playing in Gedo, who lofted a volley just under the crossbar, giving Kampango no chance. -AP
