10 Febuary, 2008
Sierra Express Media
Cameroon
lost 1-0, to the defending chanpion Egypt
 |
| Egyptian thanking God on victory over Cameroon |
Egypt won its sixth African
Cup of Nations title, and second in a row, by beating Cameroon 1-0 Sunday in the final. Mohamed Aboutreika scored the only
goal in the 77th minute, converting Mohamed Zidan's cross for his fourth goal of the tournament.
Cameroon coach Otto Pfister had been trying to become only the second German to win the African title. It was his second
attempt after leading Ghana to the 1992 final against Ivory Coast. Winfried Schafer won the 2002 title with Cameroon. Using
Samuel Eto'o as a lone striker, Cameroon created a few chances in the match.
FIFA president
Sepp Blatter, Ghanian President John Kufuor and former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho attended the match. It was a crucial
error from captain Rigobert Song that led to Aboutreika's goal.
The Cameroon captain had two chances to clear the
ball but instead got tangled in a needless duel with Zidan and lost the ball. Zidan squared it perfectly and Aboutreika finished
powerfully in the bottom right corner.Realizing his error, Song pulled his shirt into his mouth and pointed to the skies,
as if seeking forgiveness. Goalkeeper Carlos Kameni ran over and comforted Song.
Cameroon struggled
to get shots on goal and there was no player on hand to turn home Stephane M'Bia's cross in the 83rd. Song had a chance
in injury time but headed Geremi's cross over. Egypt dominated the second half, negating the threat from Eto'o, who received hardly any passes and failed to
score for the third straight match.
Hosni Abd Rabou hit the post with a header from Amr Zaky's cross in the 62nd as the Indomitable
Lions tired. Kameni burst into tears at the final whistle and had to be comforted by Eto'o. Defender Augustin Binya dropped
to his knees and gazed into the distance as Egypt's players rolled on the floor and hugged in celebration. Pfister selected
Joel Epalle and Alain Nkong in his starting lineup, while Tchato replaced the suspended Andre Bikey.
Bikey was sent
off in the 1-0 semifinal win over host Ghana, during which match Epalle helped create Nkong's goal. Early pressure from
Egypt meant Kameni had to save Sayed Moawad's long shot in the 10th, and Kameni was almost lobbed moments later when his
poor clearance landed at Aboutreika's feet. Pfister was forced into an early change when Alexandre Song Bilong limped
off in the 16th and was replaced by Augustin Binya. Song Bilong had strapping on his right thigh.
Cameroon's
first chance of the match came in the 18th, but Geremi's free kick from 30 meters (yards) was saved by Egypt goalkeeper
Essam El Hadary. Cameroon looked solid in the middle, but Egypt often found outlets down each flank. Eto'o at last found
some space in the penalty area but could not guide his shot on target in the 36th.
A minute later, Egypt's Emad Motaeb only had Kameni to beat, but the goalkeeper brilliantly blocked his shot.Late in
the first half, Pfister yelled furiously at the fourth official because referee Koffi Codjia took too long to allow Epalle
back on the field after he had gone off for treatment.With Egypt dominating the second half, but unable to break down Cameroon's
stubborn defense, coach Hassan Shahata brought on Zidan in the 59th.Zidan had scored twice in the first round in the 4-2 win
over Cameroon on Jan. 22.
Lineups:
Egypt: Essam El Hadary, Shady Mohamed, Hani Said, Ahmed Fathi, Hosni
Abd Rabou, Emad Motaeb (Mohamed Zidan, 59), Sayed Moawad, Ahmed Hassan, Amr Zaky (Mohamed Shawky, 89), Wael Gomaa, Mohamed
Aboutreika (Said Ahmed, 88).
Cameroon:
Carlos Kameni, Bill Tchato, Rigobert Song, Thimothee Atouba, Geremi, Samuel Eto'o,
Achille Emana (Mohamadou Idrissou,
55), Alain Nkong, Joel Epalle (Modeste M'Bami, 64), Alexandre Song Bilong (Augustin Binya, 16), Stephane M'Bia.
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