African Nations Championships
Result: Zimbabwe (4) 0-0 (5) Libya
Date: 29 January 2014
Venue: Free State Stadium
Libya booked their place in the final of the African Nations Championship beating Zimbabwe 5-4 on penalties, after full-time and extra-time ended 0-0 at the Free State Stadium.
Zimbabwe nearly went ahead with just three minutes gone as Danny Phiri tested Mohamed Abdaula with a free kick from distance, which troubled the shotstopper initially but he managed to gather at the second time of asking.
Ali Sadiki came close for Zimbabwe in the seventh minute, the midfielder did well to create some space for himself before firing at Mohamed Abdaula, who tipped the shot over the bar.
Muataz Fadel could have given Libya the lead in the 12th minute, but the midfielder failed to direct his header on target.
Simba Sithole squandered a chance to put the Warriors ahead in the 33rd minute, the striker headed wide from close range, after being picked out by Milton Ncube.
Elmehdi Elhouni tried his luck from the edge of the area in the 55th minute but the fullback smashed his effort into the side-netting.
Sadiki tried his luck from distance in the 61st minute but the midfielder's low driven shot failed to trouble George Chigova.
Sadiki came close in the 67th minute as his deflected effort from range nearly wrong-footed Abdaula.
Kudakwashe Mahachi squandered a great chance to give the Zimbabweans the lead in the 82nd minute, as he blasted over the bar from the edge of the area.
Neither side created any real openings in the closing stages of the second half and 30 minutes of extra time were needed.
Zimbabwe were guilty of poor finishing in the game, this time Peter Moyo blasted high and wide from the edge of the area in the first minute of stoppage time.
George Chigova was nearly embarrassed in the 98th minute as El Mutasem Abushnaf's low driven shot went right through the shot-stopper's leg but narrowly missed the target.
Zimbabwe nearly went ahead in the 104th minute as Simba Sithole's effort from six yards was blocked off by Osama Ghit, following some great play Mahachi.
The score remained scoreless after 120 minutes, after both sides struggled to create any meaningful opportunities in extra time and the game was to be decided by a penalty shootout.
Libya went on to book their spot in the final by defeating Zimbabwe 5-4 on penalties and will face Ghana or Nigeria in the final.
Here's how they lined up:
Zimbabwe: George Chigova, Eric Chipeta. Danny Phiri, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Ali Sadiki, Peter Moyo, Masimba Mambare, Partson Jaure, Simba Sithole, Milton Ncube
Libya: Mohamed Abdaula, Ahmed Alaghasi, Elmehdi Elhouni, Osama Ghit, Muataz Fadel, Mohamed Elgadi, Mohamed Ghanudi, MotasemSabbou, Ali Salama, Ahmed El Trbi, Abdelrahman fetori
By Soccer Laduma
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