CAN 2008 Preview: Cameroon - Egypt

CAN 2008 Preview: Cameroon - Egypt

What: African Cup of Nations, Group C
Who: Cameroon vs. Egypt
When: Tuesday, 22 January 2008, 17:00 GMT
Where: Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi

At exactly 17:00 GMT, all soccer enthusiasts’ eyes will be directed to the Baba Yara Stadium ground in Kumasi to witness a clash of two major African powerhouses battling it out. It's a match between the mighty Pharaohs (Egypt) and the Indomitable Lions (Cameroon), kicking off Group C.

With the memories of the World Cup 2006 qualifiers defeat from Egypt, which cost Cameroon a place in the finals, still fresh in the minds of the Lions, they’ll be looking forward to this encounter to try and take back a piece of their pride.

They'll also look to kick off the group stages in the tournament with a win to send a message to all teams that Cameroon are on their way for a record matching fifth title, with only Egypt having won that many times so far.

Egypt, title holders and record breaking five times CAN champions, still lingering with memories of winning their beloved trophy on home soil last time around, will be looking forward to this game to prove any doubters wrong.

Home advantage counts for a lot in tournaments like these, but the Pharoahs will want to send out a message tto the effect that it's not just because they played on home turf that they won the cup last time, but because they’re that good.

History aside, Tuesday’s clash between the two giants should produce some football of the highest quality as both teams will try to kick off their campaign with a win, which according to common statistics and mere logic, should grant the winners here a place in the next round.

Egypt prepared for the tournament by playing three friendlies against Namibia, Mali, and Angola, beating Namibia and Mali and drawing against Angola, though history shows that its not how you play in friendlies, its how you cope with the pressures of the big games. The vibe coming from the Egyptian camp is all full of hope and edginess even though Egyptian stars Mido and Hossam Ghaly are missing from the squad; quite unlike the vibe coming from Egyptian fans, who in turn fear the worst in spite of Egypt having very talented players.

Hassan Shehata, Egypt’s Manager, usually adopts a 4-4-2 formation which transpires into a 4-3-3 according to the match progression, but it is very likely that he’ll use a 3-5-2 in Tuesday’s game to try to add depth in the midfield to overcome Cameroon’s powerful midfield surges, thus preventing balls to their main threat, Eto’o.

Egypt’s talents include the likes of Al Ahly’s Mohamed Abu Treika, one of Africa’s most famous and best players, veteran Anderlecht Belgian Silver Boot winner Ahmed Hassan, Hamburg’s Mohamed Zidan, Emad Met’eb - who scored a hatrick in the Angola friendly - and debatably Africa’s best goal keeper Essam El Hadary, among many others, who in turn will be looking to help Egypt lift their sixth African Cup in their history.

Otto Pfister, the Cameroon coach, will be pulling up his sleeves using the massive knowledge of Egyptian culture and playing styles, having managed Al Zamalek in Egypt for a couple of years, to try and write of the champions.

Usually adopting a 4-4-2 formation, and with a massive crop of talented players with the likes of Reading’s Andre Bikey, Arsenal’s young gun Alex Song, Lille’s Jean Makoun, and veteran Geremi all available to bolster and strengthen that midfield, Pfister will be hoping that Cameroon and Barcelona superstar Samuel Eto’o is sharp enough to bag those goals. If everything goes as planned, will increase Cameroon’s chances of firstly winning the match against Egypt, and secondly stepping up to lift that trophy once more.

It should be a close battle between the midfielders, but as to whether Eto’o’s pace and knack for goals may prove too much for the Egyptian defenses and El Hadary, or Abu Treika could orchestrate Egypt’s dominance, only time will tell.

TEAM NEWS:

EGYPT:

Egypt were given a right scare after main goalkeeper Essam El Hadary twisted his ankle in training yesterday, and he's in doubt for Tuesday’s match.

Another important loss for the Egyptian team is team captain Ahmed Hassan, who’s out for two matches due to gaining two yellow cards.

Emad Met’eb is also in doubt for the game after complaining from neck pain, but is likely to feature in the game.

Amr Zaki who recovered from a minor head concussion suffered in the Mali friendly is also available.

Other than that, all other players are available for selection, with Wael Gomaa and Shadi Mohamed leading the defenses, and Shawky dominating the midfield.

Mido and Hossam Ghaly are both out of the African Nations squad, so they’re not available.

Squad From:

Essam al-Hadary (Al-Ahly), Mohamed Monsef (Zamalek)Mahmoud Fathallah (Zamalek), Tarek al-Sayed (Zamalek), Sayed Moawad, Hani Saied (Ismailia), Shady Mohamed (Al-Ahly), Ahmed Fathi (Al-Ahly), Wael Gomaa (Al-Siliya), Ahmed al-Muhammadi (ENPPI), Omar Gamal (Ismailia), Hosni Abd Rabou (Ismailia), Mohamed Aboutraika (Al-Ahly), Hassan Mostafa (Al-Wehda), Mohamed Shawky (Middlesbrough),Mohamed Fadl (Ismailia), Emad Moteab (Al-Ahly), Amr Zaki (Zamalek), Mohamed Zidan (Hamburg)

CAMEROON:

Pfister should have all his players available for selection, and thus will opt for the strongest possible XI, with Kameni, Eto’o and Makoun all making the starting line up. An attacking formation is expected.

Samuel Eto'o has recently returned to the Barcelona lineup but questions linger over his match sharpness. However, those fears should prove unfounded, as he's had long enough to prepare for the tournament.

Captain Rigobert Song should marshall the back line.

Squad From:

Kameni (Espanyol), Hamidou Souleymanou (Denizlispor, Rigobert Song (Galatasaray), Andre Bikey (Reading), Timothee Atouba (Hamburg), Bill Tchato (Qatar Sport), Benoit Angbwa (Saturn), Gilles Augustin Binya (Benfica), Geremi (Newcastle United), Alexandre Song (Arsenal), Achille Emana (Toulouse), Jean Joel Epalle (Vfl Bochum), Jean Makoun (Lille), Landry Nguemo (Nancy), Modeste Mbami (Olympique Marseille), Paul Tchamba Essola (Arsenal Kiev), Stephane Mbia Etoundi (Stade Rennes), Alain Nkong (Atlente), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona), Bertin Tomou (Excelsior Mouscron), Mohamadou Idrissou (MSV Duisburg), Joseph Desire Job (Nice)

Players to Watch:

EGYPT:

Amr Zaki- Although Mohamed Abu Treika would be the right off number one threat for the Egyptian team when in the right form, it’s Amr Zaki who’ll be grabbing the headlines in this tournament after a major overhaul in his abilities over the past two years and is likely to be Egypt’s top scorer.

CAMEROON:

Samuel Eto’o- When you’ve got a player of Eto’o’s caliber, you just can’t ignore him, and rightly so. One of the best goal scorers ever to grace the continent, Eto’o dazzled football fanatics both in club and country for the past 4 years, and is likely to do so here, given that he remains free of injury.

PREDICTION:

Prepare yourself for one massive game. Two major forces in African football history battling out for first place in Group C, I’m expecting some flying tackles, real end to end stuff in this game with the winner being the team who’ll grab that lone chance in front of goal. A real close battle, but I’m predicting Cameroon will edge out Egypt in the nearest of margins.

Final Score: Egypt 1 – 2 Cameroon

Mohamed Seif