By Samindra Kunti
February 3 – For the third time in history Egypt and Cameroon will meet in the final of the African Cup of Nations. In the semi-finals the two traditional powerhouses of the African game defeated Burkina Faso and Ghana respectively.
The tournament began with shock results in the first round as favorites Algeria and defending champions Ivory Coast crashed out, but on Sunday familiar faces will compete in the final.
Egypt reached a record-equalling ninth final, beating Burking Faso 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The Stallions, finalists in 2013, had dominated a cagey game. They were adventurous and ambitious, but Mohamed Salah opened the scoring when he curled a superb shot into the top left corner.
Burkina Faso responded with an equaliser from Aristide Bance, who chested down Charles Kabore’s cross and volleyed in from close range. In the penalty shoot-out, veteran goalkeeper Essam El Hadary became Egypt’s hero yet again, saving Bertrand Traore’s spot-kick to secure victory. El Hadary had also parried the penalty of his Burkinabe counterpart Herve Koffi.
“I had a feeling that I was going to save the final two penalties,” said El Hadary after the match.
“When we went to the shootout, our 2006 title win crossed my mind.”
The Pharaohs had not conceded a goal before the semi-finals and their defensive approach proved to be successful again. Egypt were absent from the three previous finals and with the vast majority of their players plying their trade domestically, the team has done well to reach the final. They have been very clinical: when they did venture forward against Uganda, Morocco and Burkina Faso, they scored. Yet their performances have been largely unconvincing. Throughout the tournament Hector Cuper’s team have been cautious and in Cameroon they will meet a side with a similar attitude.
Cameroon, however, began their semi-final furiously and pressed Ghana back. Adolphe Teikeu and Ndip Tambe nearly opened the scoring. Ghana grew into the match, but the Cameroonians broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute. Slavia Prague defender Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui finished from a tight angle after terrible defending by both John Boye and goalkeeper Brimah Razak. As Ghana poured forward in search of an equalizer, Christian Bassogog sealed the win in injury time with a neat dink.
“It is a real dream for us to get to the final,” said Broos. “Ghana have more experience than us – look at what they have done in recent tournaments. But since the start of this tournament we have shown we keep going right to the end in every game.
“I am very happy, especially for the team,” continued the Belgian. “They are an exemplary group on and off the field and they deserve to be in the final.”
Ghana remain the bridesmaids of the finals. They have made the semifinals in the previous six editions of the African Cup of Nations without going on to win the tournament. The Black Stars last won Africa’s continental crown in 1982.
Cameroon march on to the final. They will be underdogs against the seven-time winners, but the Indomitable Lions have been the revelation of the tournament. They have defended with discipline and in goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa Cameroon have one of the players of the tournament.
Ahead of the finals, coach Hugo Broos was caught up in the ever-strident club-versus-country debate as eight players – Liverpool’s Joël Matip, West Brom’s Alan Nyom, Schalke’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Nancy’s Guy N’Dy Assembé, Bordeaux’s Maxime Poundjé, Ajax’s Andre Onana, Marseille’s André-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Lille’s Ibrahim Amadou –- made themselves unavailable for selection before the tournament.
The team were largely written off, but Cameroon have proven to be resilient. They can now dream of a fifth title, but face their toughest test yet in Egypt. Indeed, the question is – can the Egyptian juggernaut, with all its experience and effectiveness, be stopped? They have gone 23 games unbeaten on the continent’s biggest stage – one more win and the Portugal of Africa will be crowned continental champions for an eighth time.
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