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08/02/2008 10:16
Tumo Mokone
The stage is set for the grand finale of what should go down as the greatest ever Africa Cup of Nations. Ghana, although not in the final, must be commended for a job well done in organising the ultimate spectacle for African soccer.
Moreover, the Ghanaians took the spirit of sportsmanship to a new level by accepting the defeat of their beloved national team without qualms.
To their credit, Ghana played world class football in this tournament and were not disgraced in losing by a single goal in the semi-finals to Afcon perennial favourites, Cameroon.
The 'Indomitable Lions' are such an attractive side that they go to every Afcon tournament as favourites, irrespective of their pre-tournament shape and form.
They started Ghana 2008 with a 4-2 defeat to defending champions, Egypt, in their Group C encounter. The Egyptians boast the slickest attack formation in Africa, and they effectively use their speed and precision to strike early, and that's how they destroyed Cameroon, a team notorious for their sluggish starts, yet feared for their bustling, powerful finish. When Cameroon scored their two goals, the Pharaohs had long accomplished their mission.
Contrasting realities
The two will meet again in the final, after the Egyptians accounted for Ivory Coast in the semis. The 'Elephants' had played the best football in the tournament up to the last-four stage, but the ruthless north African giants tore the form book to pieces to remind all and sundry that they have the look of champions.
Cameroon and Egypt will represent contrasting realities in the final. Firstly, they will be representing the two dominant regions of African football - west and north Africa respectively.
Secondly, while Cameroon are seeking to equal their rivals' record of five titles, Egypt will want to retain the trophy and increase their tally to six titles. They won the inaugural Afcon competition in 1957, and the last in 2006 when they hosted the tournament.
Thirdly, and more crucially, the final on Sunday will pit home-based talent against overseas-based stars. Only five players in the Egyptian squad play outside of their country.
'Big Three' clubs
However, with SV Hamburg striker Mohamed Zidan having fallen out of favour with coach Hassan Shehata, the European-based Egyptian players total just three - captain Ahmed Hassan (Anderlecht, Belgium), Ibrahim Saied (Ankaragucu, Turkey) and Mohamed Shawky (Middlesbrough, England) while the other foreign-based Pharaoh is Hassan Mustafa, who plays in Saudi Arabia.
Cameroon, whose entire squad plays abroad, including in places like Ukraine, Mexico and Qatar, will therefore face a squad largely made up of players who ply their trade with Egypt's 'Big Three' clubs - Al Ahly, Ismaili and Zamalek.
This picture speaks volumes about the quality of the Egyptian league, and those of other north African countries such as Tunisia and Morocco. Two Tunisian teams Etoile du Sahel and CS Sfaxien are the current holders of Africa's two club competitions, the Champions League and Confederation Cup, which they won in December.
The two Tunisian clubs, and the other leading clubs in north Africa, boast a sizable number of players from sub-Saharan Africa. One of the stars of Sfaxien's campaign was Congolese international, Blaise Lelo-Mbele, who left Orlando Pirates early last year. He had won nothing with the Soweto giants in the two years he had been playing in South Africa.
False comfort
But Lelo-Mbele and other sub-Saharan Africans playing in the north have one mission: to proceed to Europe. For many African players, there is no direct route to Spain, Italy, England or Germany. That's where the transit leagues in north Africa, Israel and Turkey, and medium-size European leagues such as Switzerland, Austria, Denmark and Belgium come into play.
South African players, unfortunately, are reluctant to leave the false comfort the PSL affords them. That's why I commend the players who've accepted offers to sign with Israeli teams. Cameroon football legend Roger Milla explained the great football seen in Ghana as 'the fruit of exporting players overseas'.
Egypt can afford to keep the bulk of their squad at home because their league is on par with some in Europe. The Egyptians have it all - technical awareness and ability, speed, high intensity attack and precision in front of goals. It is for these reasons that I'll put my neck on the block and say they will be crowned champions again in Accra on Sunday.
Tumo writes exclusively for Sport24.
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