By James Copnall BBC Sport, Tunis

Egypt's Hazem Emam is not happy with his team mates

Egypt star Hazem Emam says his team lost the plot once Algeria were reduced to ten men.

The Pharaohs had dominated the play, and really should have won the Group C tie once Algeria's goalscorer Mamar Manouni was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Yet Egypt could not take advantage of their numerical advantage and succumbed to a late Hocine Achiou goal.

"It was our worst half hour of the tournament," Emam told the BBC.

"We became very rushed and hurried and did not play our football.

"We kept playing high balls into the box, but we have only one tall player, Mido, and he cannot do everything.

We had no luck, but we also lacked concentration Hazem Emam

"I don't know why we did that."

Egypt's black half hour was particularly surprising given the quality of much of their play in the opening period.

Emam thinks luck deserted his side in those early stages.

"In the first half, we had many chances," said the Zamalek playmaker.

"If we had taken our chances, we would have been three of four goals ahead.

"But let's give credit to Algeria, they played more intelligently than us.

"We had no luck, but we also lacked concentration."

Egypt's defeat leaves them with a mountain to climb if they are to get to the quarter-finals.

The Pharaohs now have three points, while both holders Cameroon and Algeria are on four.

"We must win our last game against Cameroon," Emam explained.

"It will be extremely difficult."

Egypt play their final Group C match against Cameroon on 3 February in Monastir.