Egypt Vs Cameroon, a classical African Nations Cup final today

After a dramatic African Nation’s Cup semi final clash among the continent’s best sides defending champion Egypt and the four times champion Cameroon reached the final show down today. Those few enlightened had predicted the climax would bring a classical cup final match replay of group two’s opening match.
The Indomitable Lions roared back into the nation’s cup final crushing out host nation Ghana out of the semi final. When the four times champion Cameroon lost 4-2 to Egypt at the group stage opening match the majority of African football fans concluded the squad is full of old players hardly to match the fresh legged new rising soccer powers. However experience, dedication and real character helped the Indomitable Lions back in to center stage defeating hot favorite Ghana 1-0 at the semi final show down on Thurs day. Though the host’s took higher ball possession, cautious yet aggressive Cameroon waited for the one and only chance of finding the back of the net half way in to the second half through substitute Alain Nkong and held their nerve until the final whistle. Of course it was not one of the classical matches to talk about for long for it was more of a physical game than artistic ones. Veteran Regobert Song and Jeremy at the defense, twenty year old Arsenal bound Alex Song and Stefan Mbia at the mid field and with Samuel Eto and Bikery at the front Cameroon performed heroically to stop Ghana. The hosts who had had the mid field upper hand through Essein and Muntari never managed to create a goal chance for the Indomitable Lions defense line stood firm and un pentratable. Even though giant Bikery was red carded minutes before an added injury time four minutes Ghana under French manager Claude Le Roy could not capitalize the one man advantage. Though inspiring midfielder and stand in team skipper Michael Essain gave his word to President Kuffor they will never let him down, things turner sour for the nation that was sure of the championship title for the fifth time. While dejected Ghanaians wept, the Indomitable Lions celebrated wild as if it was the cup final. The newly built spacious and vibrant stadium turned in to a grave yard following the final whistle. Thirty years later German manager Otto Fisther is to lead Cameroon in to the cup final clash. Thirty years back it was Fisther who led Ghana to the nation’s cup final.
In the mean time the only North African side thrown to the lions den Egypt survived the wrath of West African rivals to reach today’s cup final show down in style. The defending champions led by popular Hassen Shiata not only won the match in much superior performance but they humiliated over confident Ivory Coast to a 4-1defeat. The Pharaohs whose squad consists of twelve from the 2006 African cup of nation’s winning side displayed a marveling team work they made life difficult for the Elephants spear headed by Didier Drogba. With Drogba, Zakora, Yaya & kolo Ture, Dindane,Eboue, Kone call any one considered the best in European league in the squad the defending champions stood firm of their own strong ground playing an easy yet flawless one to one culminated in marveling strikes. Fathy opened the score line just 12 minute in to the match from a deflected long range shot. The Ivorian’s should have noted Egypt meant real business. But they failed to react and the sudden departure of their number one goal keeper Barry to be replaced by un experienced Lebouye heralded the beginning of the end. When man of the match veteran goal keeper Al Hadri denied other wise invisible through out the match Drogba’s point blanc headers it appears granted a day for the Paroahs. For the invisibility of Drogba defender Goma took the credit for not allowing an inch how ever the giant moves.
Back from a goal to nil first half Ivory Coast appear to rattle the leaders. At 61st minute Zidan made it two nil. While Egyptians were busy celebrating the second the Elephants retaliated with a thundering 25 yard shot from Keita, one of the tournament’s best goals. Many said here came the Elephants. How ever four minutes later Zidan found the back of the net to make it 3-1 a bit too much to Ivorians. The fourth came through Abutarika’s splendid finish minutes before the whistle. The game ended as one of the tournaments most memorable. With skipper Ahmed Hassan, Hassan Zaki,  Zidan, Goma, Hanni Said and Shadi Ahmed the defending champions the only side to play with back three appear to go all the way to claim the title for a record sixth times. It only remains one thing that is humbling the Indomitable Lions who never forget the opening match humiliation and never to allow a second time. Cameroon Vs Egypt to day for the cup final of the 26th African nation’s cup final edition.

Home advantage

By James Copnall

The screaming hordes of Pharaoh supporters helped their side to seemingly impossible heights during the tournament, playing their part as the celebrated ’12th man’ to perfection.
But just how important is the home advantage in African football?
In bald statistical terms, very; as the host nation has won 11 of the previous 25 tournaments, or 44%.
The last two hosts, Egypt (2006) and Tunisia (2004), both won backed by passionate home support, but before that you have to go back to South Africa in 1996 to find a home winner.
Three of the first four tournaments went to the hosts, ending with Ghana , in 1963, when a double from Mfum and a penalty from Aggrey-Finn allowed the Black Stars to triumph over Sudan .
Ghanaian fans can take heart from that, and indeed from other trips down memory lane.
In 1978 the mercurial talents of Abdul ‘Golden Boy’ Razack inspired the Black Stars to another home victory.
Indeed, it is only in 2000, when Ghana co-hosted with Nigeria after Zimbabwe was forced to pull out, that the Ghanaians did not lift the title at home.
CK Akunnor, who captained his side to a quarter-final exit at this tournament, thinks there are clear disadvantages of playing at home.
A plea that may well have been heard after the Sulley Muntari gave credit to the role of the vociferous Black Stars’ fans in Accra in helping their victory over Nigeria in the semi-finals.
“They helped us a lot, it was fantastic,” Muntari told BBC Sport.
“You can’t describe it, we thank them for coming and cheering us, and we’ll try our best not to let them down.”
Charles Kumi Gyamfi led Ghana to three Nations Cup titles as a coach and sympathises that an intense demand for the home team to do well can be counter-productive.
“When people put so much pressure on the hosts it doesn’t help the team.”
Jules Bocande, Senegal’s legendary striker also had a bad experience of playing for a nation that was hosting the Nations Cup.
“In 1992 we all thought we were going to win, as did all of our fans.
“Everybody wanted to meet us and be seen with us, as they thought we would soon be champions.
“But the burden of expectation got to us and we crumbled because of it, going out in the quarter-finals.”
Mali returned from the international wilderness in 2002, and reached the semi-finals.
Hosting the tournament boosted sports’ infrastructure all over the country, and since then the Eagles have become a force to be reckoned with in the African game, reaching the semi-final in Tunisia 2004 as well as the Athens Olympics.
Nigeria, co-hosts in 2000, were only denied an African crown by a controversial penalty shoot-out, while Burkina Faso reached the semi-finals in 1998, a performance they haven’t come close to matching since.
In fact, you have to go back to Tunisia 1994 to find a home side that flopped utterly. The Carthage Eagles didn’t make it out of the group stages.
Perhaps the most striking example of playing hosts came in 1982, when Libya , in a tournament played on artificial pitches, reached the final, losing to Ghana on penalties.
In several decades of international competition the Libyans have only qualified for the Nations Cup finals once, in Egypt two years ago.
So there seems little doubt that a combination of passionate fans and the comforts of home can take a team far.
Whether some or all of these factors, coupled with their fine squad of players, take Ghana that lost a historical cup final place after 1-0 defeat at the hands of Cameroon in front of 30000 home fans.

Kanoute wins the African accolade despite
Drogba’s accusation

Following Malian international Fredrick Kanoute’s CAF African player of the year crowning last year winner Didier Drogba has accused the confederation for cheating him out of his second successive award for clumsy excuse.
Thirty year old former Lyon, West Ham and Spurs striker Kanoute is the first Malian to claim the award since his fellow country man Salif Keita took the very first award in 1970. When the short list announced with the final three candidates Drogba, Essain and Kanoute few only expected the Spanish side Seville ’s goal hunter would muscle out those giants from Chelsea to claim the award. How ever at the final count Kanoute collected 68% of the vote relegating his strong contenders to back shelf. One of the Spanish league top scorers Kanoute is the first non-African born winner of the award. The tall, humble goal poacher was born in 1978 in France yet decided to play for his country. Though the Malian failed to steer his side to the quarter final stage in Ghana, his credit in helping reach the nation’s cup final said to win him greater number of votes that made him king of the nation football.
In the mean time runner-up Didier Drogba denounced the continent’s soccer governing body for luck of consistency in the annual selection. Currently the most feared front man in world football Drogba told BBC that he is cheated out of the honor after they told him he is the winner of the accolade. Drogba said the CAF spokes person told him unless he is willing to travel to Togo-Lome for the ceremony he is not to get it. “Why go to Togo while the biggest African soccer feast is in high swing in Ghana ? Asked Ivorian soccer living legend Drogba. I can’t imagine traveling to Togo to my personal gain leaving the squad that anxiously waiting for a quarter final decisive clashes remarked furious Drogba who declared he is no more interested in the continent’s best player of the year award.
Ghanaian inspirational midfielder Michael Essain finished second runner-up despite the high expectation that he would be honored for the first time.
CAF spokes person told reporters that the Ivorian soccer star’s accusation is ground less and not expected from such big personality. “Football fans from around the world voted for Fredrick Kanoute. Nothing more, nothing less” remarked the spokes person.
From 1970-94 the award was determined by France Football magazine. Since 1995 it has been determined by the Confederation of African football.

Manchester derby for the 50th anniversary of Munich crash, Liverpool visits Chelsea today

Could it be possible for Rafael Benitez to perform a miracle that may change the hearts of billionaire club
owners in his favor? Theoretically it appears hard but is it not the saying nothing is impossible in football. Nevertheless the Reds travel to Stamford Bridge to day for Europe ’s biggest clash with the host Chelsea.
The Reds Vs Blues clash became one of the premier league’s biggest clashes that produce rivality between Maurinho and Benitez. Though the Portuguese got a heavy kick at the back the rivality among players still exist thus to day’s match is rather a battle to decide the great.
Already out from title contention (Benitez promised 4th place) Liverpool ’s only excitement remaining is the giant killing role that is beating the three heavy weights running for the season’s title.
Avram Grant may be a bit short handed in the mid field for missing the Ghanaian power house Michael Essain and the Nigerian Michael Obe. Steven Gerard might fill at ease for this. But missing the giant striker Ivorian Didier Drogba is the biggest up set for the manager who still dreams bringing the title to Stamford Bridge to help the fans forget Jose Maurinho. Rejuvenated Andrei Schevichenko and German star Michael Ballack face strong defense to challenge.
The derby match between defending champion Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford is also the color of the weekend. Many things are at stake for the home side still the hottest favorite to claim the title for second year running. The 50th anniversary of the Munich plane crush that claimed the lives of eight players and more than fifteen back room staffs of United is today and what better way there is to remember the heroes than in victory. The other reason for being strong is to avenge City for what they did at the start of the season that is a 3-1 victory. The title contention is the other key point that made the day heavier than any other times. If United lose, Arsenal may go a bit too far to catch up. Thus Alex Ferguson is expected to field the very best of what United has minus in suspension Rooney.  Ferguson needs a serious strategic change to bring some one beside the lone striker Tavez at the front. Sven Goran Eriksson has nothing to loose against such a strong rival having English premier league best collection thus the advantage of not being under pressure may be the deadly weapon against the host.