The great Pharaoh's of Egypt will not be in South Africa in 4 weeks time when Afcon 2013 will kick off. Their absence has been one of the great shocks of this edition's qualification matches.

I believe that smart coaches will be looking towards the pyramids and adopting elements of the formula that have made Egypt the most successful national team in the championship's history. Their record is so unmatched that the two countries that come after them in the ladder of achievement would have to win three more titles (without Egypt winning another) to even catch up with them. Ghana and the Cameroon come a distant second to Egypt with their 4 victories each.

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