Accra — The 2008 Cup of Nations final on Sunday will be played between Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions and Egypt’s Pharaohs.
This follows Cameroon’s narrow 1-0 defeat of hosts Ghana, and Egypt’s unexpectedly big 4-1 win over Côte d’Ivoire in the semifinals.
Virtually no one could have predicted that Cameroon and Egypt, which began the tournament by playing each other, would cross paths again.
Egypt’s 4-2 win in their Group C clash has left a strong impression, and Sunday’s game could well be compared to the 1986 final, which the Pharaohs won in a penalty shootout.
For Cameroon, the final presents an opportunity to exact revenge on the only team that humiliated them in the tournament. Working for Cameroon is the fact it has won most of the finals it has contested.
Hassan Shehata, the Egyptian coach, already has declared that his team will not spare Cameroon, a message that most likely didn’t fall on deaf ears. Whether this will translate into an Egyptian win remains to be seen. The Cameroonians have very rarely lost to the same team twice during the same year.
Cameroon shatters Ghana’s dream
The “Indomitable Lions” have built quite a reputation for beating Cup of Nations host countries, and they lived up to it on Thursday by standing up against both Ghana and its enthusiastic supporters, who had filled Accra’s Ohene Djan Stadium almost to maximum capacity.
Cameroon’s narrow win was thanks to a goal by Nkong in the second half. The determination, experience and strength of character of the Cameroonian squad ultimately triumphed over Ghanaian coach Claude Leroy’s young team, who found themselves under intense pressure to make up for a goal with less than 20 minutes play left.
Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and their teammates are inconsolable after their defeat. They now have to bring solace to their followers by wrestling Côte d'Ivoire on Saturday for third place and a bronze medal.
Egypt demolishes Côte d'Ivoire
Defending champions Egypt earned the chance to defend their 2006 title with the big win against Côte d'Ivoire.
Sunday’s game will be Egypt’s eighth final, and they stand to win their sixth continental win – two records that ratchet up the stakes on the match.
Throughout the tournament, the Egyptian team, coached by the experienced Hassan Shehata, has stood out as the most attractive, with a comprehensive, multi-talented team with the ability to deliver realistic offensives.
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The Ivoirians learned this the hard way. Indeed, for the first time ever in this competition, Côte d'Ivoire didn’t score first and were never able to make up the difference, despite their line-up of some of the continent’s very best players, among them Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou.
Côte d’Ivoire failed to overcome the Egyptian “Stop” sign, which also ended their hopes in the 2006 and 1992 finals. Their defeat was incurred despite the return of Kolo Toure to the squad after injuries kept him away for two games – although the loss can be attributed to the early replacement of goalie Copa Barry as a result of injury.
They too now have a chance to save face by winning bronze.
