Benguela — Egypt's relentless machine of success rolled on at the African Nations Cup on Saturday, winning again, making sure they topped their group and breaking a record along the way.
The 2-0 win over Mozambique in Benguela means Egypt cannot be caught at the top of the table.
They will now stay in Benguela for their quarterfinal date against the runner-up in Group D and be well pleased they do not have to move or change their routine.
With six points they can be caught only by Nigeria, who also won on Saturday but with a far less convincing one-goal victory over Benin in Group C's other Saturday match.
Even if Egypt lose their last game, Nigeria cannot overhaul them because of their head-to-head result against the Pharaohs earlier in the competition.
Egypt have now won 15 successive matches at the Nations Cup, a run without defeat that stretches back to the 2004 edition in Tunisia. This breaks the record set by Cameroon between 1984 and 1988.
There was heartbreak for defender Dario Khan again, as he contrived to score an own-goal for a second successive game.
Having put the ball into his own net against Benin, he repeated the feat just after half-time to give Egypt a 1-0 lead.
To be fair, his fellow defender Mexer should have cleared but completely missed the ball. Khan was caught out by the pace of the cross and hit it past his own goalkeeper. He would have wanted the ground to have opened up there and then because it signaled the end of a rearguard action from the southern Africans.
Mohamed Nagui scored among the best goals yet seen at the tournament, showing great skill in hammering home a left-footed volley for Egypt's second goal against the Mambas in the 81st minute.
He had not properly controlled a clever through ball from Ahmed Hassan with his right foot but quickly recovered to hammer home the bouncing ball with his left, giving Mozambique goalkeeper Kampagno no chance with a rocket into the net. Hassan set up the goal with a midfield steal of the ball, again proving his ageless quality.
