The Pharaohs retain African Cup of Nations title

Defending African champions Egypt scripted one of the most memorable sporting moments when the North African nation retained their African Cup of Nations crown won on home soil two years back. On a hot and humid Sunday night in Accra, Ghana, the Pharaohs registered a narrow 1-0 victory against Cameroon. The final victory over Cameroon was the second in the competition for Egypt after Hassan Shehata’s boys scored an emphatic 4-2 win in their opening group game. The matchwinner was the Al Ahly midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika, when he calmly slotted home a Mohamed Zidan pass fourteen minutes from time. The win hands Egypt a record sixth continental title. It is also a record third crown for captain Ahmed Hassan making him the only player in the history of the competition to have that honour. The victory is particularly sweet for Egypt as many football pundits had written them off at the start of the tournament. Unfavourable West African climatic conditions aided by the absence of star striker Mido were cited as the reasons for Egypt’s exclusion as the favourites of the tournament. Even many Egyptian officials admitted the fact that their team is on a transition mode after the retirement of many influential national footballers. Yet the Pharaohs showed their royal nature by registering impressive victories en route to the big final. The 4-1 semi-final mauling of tournament hot favourites Ivory Coast was a standout performance. Egypt came out of the blocks quickly and looked the sharper of the two teams on the pitch. Cameroon suffered a major blow after just fifteen minutes when Arsenal defender Alexander Song-Bilong had to be replaced by Gilles Binya through injury. Both the teams were testing each other through long-range set pieces but the North Africans looked more purposeful on the pitch. Egypt looked dangerous on the break and Emad Motaeb had a fantastic chance to give the men in red the lead in the 36th minute when his close range volley was stunningly saved by Cameroon goalkeeper Carlos Kameni. After the first period Hassan Shehata’s men piled on the pressure on Cameroon only to be denied by an excellent Kameni on the goal. After wasting a handful of chances the defending champions finally surged ahead in the 76th minute when Mohamed Zidan capitalised on a Rigobert Song error to pass the ball towards Aboutrika who calmly slotted it in. The goal was a result of an individual error after Song, who plays for Turkish side Galatasaray, was robbed of possession by Hamburg striker Zidan when instead of clearing the ball away he held on to it. Although Cameroon pushed for the equaliser in the closing stages, Egypt battled to hold on to the lead and clinch the title for a record time. Egyptian coach Hassan Shehata became only the second man to win back to back titles after Ghana’s Charles Gyamfi in the 1960s. Source: Herald Sun