Striker Abdeljalil Hadda scored twice in the second half as Morocco came from behind to defeat Algeria 2-1 in a World Cup African zone qualifier in Johannesburg Monday.
Spain-based Hadda struck after 51 and 75 minutes for the Atlas Lions in Fes after Ali Sabih had given the Desert Warriors a 38th-minute lead in the North African derby.
Victory took Morocco two points clear at the top of Group C, branded the Group of Death because it contains four potential qualifiers for the 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea.
Senegal, who fought a 0-0 draw with Egypt in Dakar, lie second with two points after two rounds of the mini-league competition. Egypt, Namibia and Algeria have one point each.
Algeria, who have slipped a few rungs of the African football ladder since playing in the 1982 and 1986 tournaments, began impressively and it came as no surprise when Sabih converted a Abdelhafid Tasfaout cross.
A Moroccan revival was triggered by midfielder Youssef Chippo from English Premiership club Coventry City and once Hadda struck his second goal, Algeria looked a beaten team.
Senegal, who began their campaign last month with an impressive draw in Algeria, won plenty of possession against Egypt, but could not find a way through one of the meanest defenses in Africa.
Democratic Republic of Congo shrugged off a shock first-round loss against Madagascar in Group D to overcome neighbors Congo 2-0 in Kinshasa with goals by Jason Mayele and Jean-Jacques Yemweni.
Guinea maintained their 100 percent record in Group E through a thrilling 3-2 win in Burkina Faso with France-based teenage striker Pascal Feindouno hitting the 81st-minute winner.
Another rising star, Souleymane Youla, gave Guinea an early lead and Romeo Kambou leveled only for Abdoulaye 'Kapi' Sylla to edge the visitors ahead again midway through the opening half.
Burkina Faso equalized with 18 minutes left in Ouagadougou when Amadou Toure converted a penalty kick, but there was n response from the Stallions when Feindouno raised his World Cup goal tally to four is as many matches – (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
