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ONLY WAY TO STOP HIM: Morocco's Houcine Kharja grabs Feindouno by the hand to stop the Guinean from going through. -- PHOTO: AFP
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ACCRA (GHANA) - HERO one moment, villain the next.
Guinea captain Pascal Feindouno scored two goals on Thursday, created another and then got ejected in a vital 3-2 win over Morocco in the African Nations Cup.
Now, he could miss the rest of the tournament after being sent off for stamping.
'Pascal is a key player and we will have to find a solution,' said Guinea coach Robert Nouzaret, whose side lost their opening match to hosts Ghana.
The pitch at the Ohene Djan Stadium, dismissed as 'a potato field' by Ghana coach Claude Le Roy, had been given a trim after the long grass came in for criticism in the first two games staged here.
Guinea took an 11th-minute lead after Feindouno curled in a free kick.
Morocco coach Henri Michell made a tactical switch on 55 minutes, bringing on striker Hicham Aboucherouane in place of midfielder Houssine Kharja.
Aboucherouane's introduction triggered six minutes of pure bedlam.
First, Guinea increased their lead through Ismael Bangoura.
Seconds later, with his first touch of the ball, Aboucherouane scored at the other end with a controlled shot from the edge of the area.
The drama, though, was only just beginning as Guinea were then awarded a penalty when Souleymane Youla was felled in the box.
Feindouno stepped up to convert the penalty.
The red mist then descended on the Guinea captain, who celebrated by kicking out at Morocco's Amin al-Erbate to earn the Saint Etienne striker the dubious distinction of becoming the first player to be sent off at this tournament.
It could cost him at least a two-match suspension.
Morocco pulled one back in the 90th minute when Abdeslam Ouaddou headed past goalkeeper Kemoko Camara.
In another match, Ghana beat Namibia 1-0.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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