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Pharaohs of Egypt meet the
Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Tuesday
Kumasi, Jan. 21,
Ghanadot/GNA – Defending
Champions, the Pharaohs of Egypt will commence the defence
of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) title they won in 2006
on a crucial note as they encounter the Indomitable Lions of
Cameroon at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on
Tuesday.
The match is expected to be cagey and uncompromising,
judging from the rich experience and history behind the two
teams at the CAN soccer fiesta.
The two countries have together won a total of nine titles,
with Cameroon winning it in 1984, 1988, 2000 and 2002 whiles
the Egyptians won it in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998 and 2006.
Unlike their Egyptian counterparts, who performed creditably
to enable them annex the trophy for the fifth time in 2006,
the Cameroonians took an early exit from the tournament
after they were eliminated via penalty shoot-out by Cote
d’Ivoire at the quarter-final stage.
The Pharoahs, who are aware of the Herculean task that
awaits them have so far refused to comment on the match but
morale in the camp of the Indomitable Lions is very high as
officials and players of the team are looking up to a good
match.
“We are ready for any opposition in this tournament as we
believe we have what it takes to lift this year’s MTN CAN
tournament”, Mr Linus Pascal Fouda, an official of the
Cameroonian team told the GNA Sports in an interview.
The team, he said, had learnt many lessons since their exit
from the last tournament in Egypt in 2006 and that the
Indomitable Lions were determined to win this year’s Cup in
spite of the stiff opposition they might face from other
teams.
In a related development, the Ashanti regional branch of the
Nationwide Supporters Union (NSU) together with their
counterparts from Egypt, Cameroon, Sudan and Zambia on
Monday staged a massive carnival through the principal
streets of Kumasi to whip up the interest of the tournament
among residents.
Clad in their various national colours, the supporters sang
and cheered their various teams amidst brass band music to
the admiration of onlookers.
The three-hour carnival commenced from the Prempeh Assembly
Hall and ended at the Centre for National Culture (CNC)
where Mr Kwabena Senkyire, Regional Co-ordinator of NSU,
called on the various supporters to work hard to promote
unity amongst the various associations.
GNA
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