MALI 2002 - The African Cup Of Nations XXIII 
   The qualification - match reports

Sep 10, 1600 GMT?  Libya - Sudan  1:0 (final) 

1st half: 
-ground very difficult to play, extremely bumpy 
-skillful Sudanese with dominating ball possession, stunning how they control the ball on this ground 
-('10) Sudan: indirect freekick inside penalty area, blocked  
-('11) Libyan #9 with diagonal shot wide 
-('14) Sudan : header no damage 
-('15) Sudan defence with holes and a half chance for Libya 
-Sudanese keeper with no problems at crosses 
-('35) dangerous distance attempt by Sudan wide 
-('38) Sudanese keeper with an alert interception against a fast and dangerous Libyan counter attack 
-('43) unlucky Sudanese: A cross from the left found Libyan #7 on the right hand side to the goal who volley it from a difficult angle, the keeper deflects the shot so that it flies towards his own goal. A defender tries to rescue by a bycicle kick but the linesman and referee decide it has crossed the line. A close decision - 1:0 
-('45) a chance for Libyan #9, wide 

halftime 1:0 
The most of the game up to here was played in the Libyan half. Astonishing that in Sudan the technically better team had advantages on this difficult pitch. One reason might have been that Libyans did not challenge the Sudanes players enough when they had the ball. On the other hand Sudanes had still problems to convert their dominating ball possession into clearcut chances. Libya dangerous on the occasion and that was enough when the Sudanese keeper who had played very good so far, helped them a bit. NNow it will be very difficult for the Sudanese. 
 

2nd half: 
-Libyan #10, Saadi Gaddafi, who has become known even at Europe because he is the son of the Libyan leader and chief of the Libyan football association (as a player), played only one half, he did not return 
-('48) Libyan keeper comes out of his goal just in time to rescue against a sole attacker 
-('57) Libyan #14, most conspicious player in green (with #9) excites the crowd with a spectacular backheel trick. It does not only look good, it becomes a through ball for an attacker 
-('62) after a nice passing sequence, Sudanese #12, one of the best in white and red, shoots from 14 meters but good save by the Libyan keeper who deflects the shot to a corner 
-('63) this time the Sudanese keeper saves: he grabs the ball just before a Libyan attacker can score 
-('64) Sudanese #12 volleys the ball from more than 25 meters narrowly wide 
-the match is more entertaining now, with Sudan attacking and Libyan counter attacks more effective than in the first half 
-('67) An opportunity for Sudan #10, Libyan keeper comes out, did he touch the ball? it was outside the penalty area, the ball rolls toward the empty goal but wide. Goal kick given. 
-('69) Sudanese show they can run fast counter attacks themselves 
-('72) but Libya still more dangerous on this exercise 
-('79) Sudan play too complicated as they have a good opportunity inside the Libyan penalty area 
-('85) more tough luck for Sudan: their most conspicious player #12 makes a dangerous challenge in attempt to go for the ball, injures himself (and his opponent) and sees second yellow card - Sudan down to 10 

final result 1:0