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Hurray! The Pharaohs rule Africa again!
Accra, Feb. 10, Ghanadot/GNA - The
Pharaohs of Egypt on Sunday proved the superiority of
artistry over brute force in the game of soccer when they
piped Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 1-0 to retain the
African Nations Cup.
It was a well-deserved victory for the Egyptians in the
finals of the 26th MTN Africa Cup of Nations played at the
Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.
The Egyptians displayed one of the best brands of football
in the three-week continental soccer fiesta, recording
significant victories over heavy weights like Cameroon at
the group stage and Cote d'Ivoire in the semi-finals.
The Egyptians, thus become the only country with six
Nation's Cup trophies in the drawer with the last two
achieved in 2006 and 2008, all under the technical tutelage
of coach Hassan Shahata, who thus equalled the achievement
of C.K. Gyamfi of Ghana, who won it in 1963 and 1965.
While the Pharaohs displayed soccer artistry the
Cameroonians opted for power soccer. The Egyptians,
therefore, eclipsed them in all the departments of the game.
The Pharaohs, however, had to wait till the 76th minute to
find the only goal, even though they dominated the entire
game and created chances enough to end the game on a rather
huge score line.
This was after both sides had battled to a pulsating
goalless drawn game in the first half, with the Pharaohs
dominating the exchanges and creating more decent chances
with both Mohamed Abouterika and Hassan Zakky coming close
to scoring in the 20th and 24th minutes, respectively.
Cameroon's head coach, Otto Pfister, however, had his plight
worsened when he was compelled to pull out workaholic
midfielder Alexander Song, who seemed not to have recovered
from the injury he sustained in the game against Ghana to be
replaced with Binya Gilles Augustine.
As the game progressed, the victory signs on numerous
occasions pointed to the North Africans and aided by the
indecision of the Cameroonian Captain, Rigobert Song in
defence made the Pharaohs to find the opener which
eventually became the match winner.
Song failed to make a first time clearance of the ball and
this resulted in a tussle with substitute Mohamed Zidan, who
even though on the ground, managed to squeeze a pass to
unmarked Aboutrika, who placed it into an empty net after
gaolie Carlos Idris Kameni was completely beaten.
The Egyptians had earlier come close to scoring on on a
number of occasions but were denied by the agility of
goalkeeper Kameni, who proved critics wrong with his
superlative performance on the day.
Kameni was however beaten in the 71st minute but had the
goal posts to come to his rescue when Hosny Abdrabou's
header from a cross from Aboutrika missed target narrowly.
However, with the intense pressure on the Cameroonians, it
was evident that the Egyptians were on the verge of scoring
as four successive corner kicks were on each occasion given
the needed clearance by the Song-led defensive system.
The 76th minute goal, therefore, came as no surprise even
though it looked like a gifted goal to the Egyptians by the
undecided Song.
The Cameroonians from then struggled in vain to come on
level terms after the goal with their lone striker Samuel
Eto'O Fils locked up by the Egyptian defence, while his team
mates failed to provide him the needed supply to deliver as
most of their moves were clipped in the midfield by Hassan
Kamel Ahmed.
The well-grilled Egyptian defence throughout the game cut
out all additional attempts by Stephane Mbia and overlapping
Geremi Njitap.
The Egyptian players met the Beninese Referee Coffie Codja's
final whistle with wild jubilation.
A colourful display of authentic African culture brought to
an end of the most successful African Cup of Nations
tournament.
LINE UP:
EGYPT: El Hadari Essam, Mohamed Shady, Hany Said, Fathy
Ahmed, Hosny Abdrabou, Mohamed Emad,/Mohamed Zidan, Mowad
Sayed, Hassan Ahmed, Hassan Zaky Amr/Shawky Mohamed, Gomaa
Wael, Mohamed Aboutrika/Saed Ibrahim.
CAMEROON: Carlos Idris Kameni, Bill Tchato, Rigobert Song,
Thimothee Atouba, Geremi Njitap, Samnuel Eto'O Fills, Emana
Achille/Iddrissou Mamadou, Allian Nkong, Joel Epalle/Modeste
Mbami, Alexander Song/Binya Gilles Augsutine, Stephane Mbami.
GNA
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