Official African Nations Cup 2008 thread

[The Third Dukes]

Quarterfinals are set, and they should be good ones.

Nigeria @ Ghana

Angola v. Egypt

Guinea v. Ivory Coast

Cameroon v. Tunisia

I'd say the draw looks very good for Egypt -- they get Angola first, then a very weak winner of Nigeria/Ghana, then an emotionally spent winner of Ivory Coast/Cameroon. They're a dark horse in this thing.

[Crybaby Bunting]

The standard of goalkeeping is terrible so far. I really really want to declare myself for Angolan International duties

A rediculous equalizer in the very last second sees the ball traveling at 0.3 miles per hour from a dismal header, bounces off the post and crawls into the back of the net.

[Lord Nibbler]

Manucho's equaliser against Egypt.

http://www.d1g.com/video/show/1752160

Quality.

[Dan]

Egypt beating Cote D'Ivoire.

[Dan]

3-1.

Wow.

Edit: 4-1, :|

Edited February 7, 2008 by Dan

[therockbox]

4-1

Fair play Egypt, unbelievable result.

[Guest Ringmaster]

Good riddance to the Ivory Coast, bunch of diving thugs :@

[Dynamite]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VrnfjX20tWU

Someone care to explain this for me?

[Turbo Yannis]

Bikey's a prick?

[estebanmon]

Well, it seems the guy he pushed pushed the doctor (which I suppose was Cameroon's).

[brenchill]

I watched the first half of the final. Cameroon were fucking awful coming forward every time they had the ball in a dangerous position in the Egyptian half they gave the ball away way too cheaply and Eto'o just looked like he couldn't be arsed.

[The Third Dukes]

ACCRA (AFP) - Egypt retained their African Nations Cup crown here Sunday when Mohamed Aboutraika lifted the champions to a 1-0 win over Cameroon and a record sixth title.

The defending champions ensured they held on to the trophy when, after a slick passing movement, Aboutraika struck in the 77th minute.

The result was the Pharoahs final act in what has been a hugely impressive campaign in Ghana which saw them build on defeat of the Cameroonians in their opening group game to record victories over Sudan, Tunisia and Ivory Coast in the semi-finals.

The only minor blemish on an otherwise perfect passage to the continental trophy was the 1-1 draw with Zambia.

Egypt were adding the 2008 trophy to their wins in 1957, 1959, 1986 (on penalties against Cameroon), 1998 and 2006 with coach Hassan Shehata joining an exclusive club numbering just two of coaches who have won back-to-back titles.

Shehata had promised that his players could keep the trophy won in Cairo two years ago and his prediction was proved right on a hot and humid night in the Ghana capital.

If the competition had followed the popular script Sunday's finale would have pitted Ghana against pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast.

The sparring finalists boasted more titles between them than street sellers outside Accra's Ohene Djan stadium, and that pedigree showed as they put on a fast moving display for watching former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho and the rest of the crowd.

Cameroon were without suspended defender Andre Bikey, but Alexandre Song, stretchered off in the semi-final win over Ghana, was on the pitch.

However, the Arsenal defender, clearly out of sorts, only lasted a quarter of an hour, limping off dejectedly with Benfica back Gilles Binya taking his place.

Before Song's exit Hosny Abd Rabou had kicked off Egypt's attack with a sweetly taken 30m free kick which flew over the Cameroon defence to test Carlos Kameni.

The Cameroon keeper had to look sharp minutes later to deny Emad Moteab's angled shot.

Egypt skipper Ahmed Hassan then did well to stick his foot out to deflect Joel Epaule's potent effort.

Pharoahs' keeper Essam al-Hadary, man of the match against Ivory Coast, was up to the job of denying a 30m freekick special from Geremi and on the counter attack Kameni had to produce an acrobatic dive to keep out Moteab's dangerous strike.

Samuel Eto'o took on the Egyptian defence singlehandedly approaching the break only for his shot to edge wide of the far post while again on the counter attack Kameni performed sterling work to close down a shot from the charging Moteab's in the box.

The only surprise was that neither country had been able to add to their 14 goal haul since battle commenced three weeks ago.

Egypt looked the more likely to score in the opening 45 minutes but captain Rigobert Song, Kameni and the rest of the Cameroon defence were holding tight.

Eto'o, the competition's all time top scorer, had the Egyptians scampering around around the hour mark with a lightning run down the left.

Cameroon coach Otto Pfister then introduced striker Mohamadou Idrissou for a midfielder, Achille Emana, as he sought the keys to unlock the Egyptians with Shehata swoping Moteab for sharp shooting Hamburg striker Mohamed Zidan.

Zidan scored twice in Egypt's win over Cameroon earlier in the tournament and he was instrumental in putting them into a 77nd minute lead.

He robbed the tiring Rigobert Song and his slide rule pass from the left found the unmarked Aboutraika who calmly struck low and hard past Kameni.

That was the Al Ahly midfielder's fourth goal, and it set up a fraught final quarter of an hour as Cameroon frantically tried to get back into it but the defending champions held on to take the continental cup back to Cairo.