Feb. 24, 2001 SportsLine.com wire reports

WINDHOEK -- Defender Ibrahim Said kept alive Egypt's World Cup hopes with a dramatic injury time equaliser for a 1-1 draw away to Namibia on Saturday.

Said scrambled home a goal two minutes into stoppage time as Egypt made a desperate effort to stay on course for a place in the finals in Japan and South Korea next year.

Namibia led from the 50th minute when Razundura Tjikuzu raced away on the counter attack and placed the ball perfectly past Egyptian goalkeeper Nader El Sayed.

Egypt needed to win their group C game to steel a march on group leaders Morocco, who had been held to a goalless draw in Namibia when they played their World Cup qualifier here last June.

But despite dominating possession, they failed to convert two golden chances in the second half when Hazem Imam hit the ball straight at the goalkeeper and then captain Hossam Hassan's first touch was too strong when he had only the goalkeeper to beat.

After a triple substitution 10 minutes from time Egypt launched a furious charge and Said eventually managed to tap home the ball after Imam set him up in front of goal.

The point came as a big relief to the Egyptians.

Germany-based defender Hany Ramzy said the draw ensured they still had a chance to qualify from the group, which also includes Algeria and Senegal.

"We needed at least a point and we were lucky in the end to get it, but that's how it goes in football," he said.

Ramzy, who played for Kaiserslautern in the UEFA Cup win over Sparta Prague on Thursday, flew 11 hours overnight from Frankfurt to Windhoek to play in the match.

Namibia coach Ted Dumitru blamed the referee for playing too much injury time at the end of the game, but it was the inexperience of the home side that cost the win.

Egypt have now drawn all three of their matches in the group and lie third with two points behind Morocco on five and Algeria on four. Senegal and Namibia have two points.

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