Libya advance to CHAN final

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Pretoria - Libyan goalkeeper, Mohamed Abdaula, was the hero of the CHAN semi-final match against Zimbabwe at Free State stadium on Wednesday night.

Libya won the dramatic semi-final 5-4 on penalties - after an earlier goalless 120 minutes - to book a space in the finals of the 2014 CHAN tournament. Abdaula converted the winning spot-kick after he saved Ali Sadiki’s shot. 

Neither side could be separated after a tense game, which the Warriors of Zimbabwe were unlucky to lose as they were all over their opponents for the entire match.

The Libyan goalkeeper even received a yellow card for running down the clock.

The Warriors of Zimbabwe reached the semi-finals after their convincing 2-1 win against Mali in the quarter-final clash played at Cape Town stadium, while Libya’s passage into the last four was secured when they beat Gabon on penalties at Peter Mokaba stadium.

The North Africans were looking more than happy to take the match into extra time and ultimately a penalty shoot-out as Zimbabwe kept them on their half defending.

Now with this crucial win, the North Africans will prepare to face the winner between Ghana and Nigeria. The two countries will clash later this evening.

The CHAN finals will be played on Saturday at Cape Town stadium.

Libya XI: Abdaula, Almaghasi, Elhouni, Ghit, Sabbou, Salama, El Trbi, Fetori, Fadel, Elgadi, Ghanudi

Zimbabwe XI: Chigova; Chipeta, Zvirekwi, Jaure, Ncube; Phiri, Mahachi, Sadiki, Moyo, Mambare; Sithole.-SAnews.gov.za