After the disappointing 2-2 draw with Nigeria in the second round of the U-23 African Cup of Nations, Egypt’s Olympic team coach Hossam El-Badry revealed that the players harry-up to score affected their performance during the game, asking them to concentrate on the coming game.

Egypt is aiming to finish as one of the top three in the Nations Cup to qualify for the Olympic Games next summer in Rio de Janeiro.

The young Pharaohs kept alive their hopes of booking a place at next year's Olympic Games when they came from two goals down to earn an exciting 2-2 draw with Nigeria in their second Group B clash of the U-23 African Cup of Nations on Wednesday.

They are third in group B with two points from two draws, two behind leading duo Nigeria and Algeria, who meet each other in the last game while Egypt face already-eliminated Mali.

"We have to concentrate on the Mali game and to forget the Nigeria match," El-Badry said after the game.

Two highly controversial penalties from Oghenekaro Etebo put Nigeria 2-0 up inside the first half of an hour in Senegalese city Mbour but Egypt roared back in seven second-half minutes, thanks to goals from Ramadan Sobhi and substitute Karim Mamdouh.

"I thanked the players after the game as they succeeded to come back to the game despite the controversial scenario we suffered from during the first half."

"We were able to win the game but the players' harry-up to score suspended their efforts, but we still have the chance to qualify," Egypt's tactician added.

Egypt will face already-eliminated Mali on Saturday in the third round of the U-23 African Cup of Nations group stage.

African confusing refereeing

Egypt conceded two controversial penalties, the first was awarded in the 19th minute when Cameroonian referee Antoine Essouma adjudged Egypt's defensive midfielder Rami Rabia to have handled a cross but television replays showed that the ball had struck his knee.

The second penalty was awarded after half an hour when a Nigerian pass deflected off a defender and looped to the flailing arm of full-back Mohamed Hani.

"The refereeing in Africa is confusing as they officiate well, forcing us to praise them and then the back down as what happened today but we hope to be in a good shape," El-Badry said after the game.

The CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations kicked off last week in Senegal with eight teams in two groups competing to book tickets to the Men's Olympic Football Tournament next summer in Rio de Janeiro.

The two finalists and the third place winner will represent Africa in next year's Olympic Games.

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