Egypt will face Cameroon in the finals of the Gabon 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
As seven-time champions, Egypt will face Cameroon in the final Sunday. The match, which will kick off at 20:00 local time at the Stade de l’Amite in the capital of Libreville promises to be an epic encounter and will be a repeat of the 2008 AFCON, where both sides met in the finals.
At the time, Egypt won that encounter to win their sixth title.
Egypt and Cameroon are easily two of the most successful teams at AFCON. When both sides meet on Sunday, Egypt will be seeking a record 8th title success while Cameroon will be in search of their fifth.
Indomitable Lions Dominate Black Stars
Indomitable Lions celebrate. Photo credit: Africafrique
On Thursday, a relatively inexperienced Cameroon did a yeoman’s job of defeating four-time AFCON winners Ghana in the second semi-final match. The Cameroonians were missing several key players who turned down the chance to represent their country at AFCON, preferring instead to feature for their club sides in Europe.
The Cameroonians knew they had their work cut out for them, so they approached the match with the required briskness. Their efforts payed off in the second half, when defender Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui who plays for Slavia Prague fired home a shot in the 72nd minute when Ghana’s defense line failed to properly clear a free kick.
That goal sparked Ghana in to overdrive and Coach Avram Grant responded by throwing in veteran striker Asamoah Gyan. Ghana’s desperation for the needed equalizer left them vulnerable at the back, and the Cameroonians made the most of it through a beautiful counter attack move that saw Christian Bassogog sprint ahead to score a second goal late in to the match and extinguish any chances of a comeback for Ghana.
Ghana lost despite having one of the most potent strike forces at the competition, and Coach Grant said the defeat was very hard to take, “I am more than unhappy. We wanted so much to be in the final.
“We did everything to be there and in the second half we completely dominated. Congratulations to Cameroon of course but we were the better side, and we lost.”
Watch highlights of the match here:
Egypt Pushes Past Burkina Faso
Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary. Photo credit: BBC
The Egyptians booked its place in the finals on Wednesday, when they defeated West African underdogs Burkina Faso in a pulsating semi-final match that went on to overtime and was eventually settled by penalty shootouts.
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah opened, scoring with a beautiful effort in the 66th minute. Burkina Faso brought the match level 7 minutes later, when Aristide Bance volleyed in a Charles Kabore cross. Bance’s goal was the first goal scored against Egypt from open play at the 2017 AFCON.
Egypt has enjoyed a remarkable AFCON 2017. Veteran goal keeper Essam El Hadary, in particular, has awed everyone with his performances that have managed to roll back the years. El Hadary, 44, was the hero of the night when his two penalty saves ensured Egypt’s place at the final at the expense of Burkina Faso.
Watch highlights of the match here:
Burkina Faso will now meet Ghana’s Black Stars in Saturday’s third place play-off match in Port Gentil.
