Cameroon looking for dream final on home turf

This evening’s AFCON semi-final between Egypt and hosts Cameroon is a replay of three previous tournament finals: 1986, 2008, and 2017. The Pharaohs won in ‘86 and ‘08 when Vincent Aboubakar scored a late winner for the Indomitable Lions.

Aboubakar is also the current top scorer of this year’s competition with six goals, followed closely behind by his teammate Karl Toko Ekambi on five – no other player has scored more than three goals in this year’s tournament.

It’s clear that Cameroon are relishing home advantage, they’re the competition’s top scorers while their future opponents Egypt have scored just four. In a tournament that has felt light on goals overall, Toni Conceição’s team have been the exception.

So it’s no surprise then that Cameroon – who have a clean bill of health – are the hot favourites going into the is game but Egypt can’t be underestimated.

Carlos Queiroz’s Egypt side can’t be ruled out. They knocked out two of the competition favourites, Morocco and Ivory Coast, on their path to the semi-finals. Cameroon’s opponents Comoros and Gambia haven’t quite been at the same level.

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Egypt do have some selection worries, particularly in goal where bad luck has meant that both Mohamed El Shenawy and Mohamed Abou Gabal have picked up injuries. Mohamed Sobhy could well earn his first Egypt cap in a crucial encounter.

The game will be played at the Olembe Stadium. It’s the first time the stadium has been used since eight people sadly lost their lives following Cameroon’s game with Comoros on the 24th of January. It will add a sombre mood to what would otherwise be a joyous occasion.

Difficult final ahead

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Senegal made it to the final by eliminating Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, and Burkina Faso in the knock-out stages. The 3-1 scoreline in the semi-final against Burkina Faso is a little modest, Aliou Cissé were by far the better team on the night.

The Lions of Teranga will be hoping to go one better than in 2019 when they lost to Algeria in the final. No matter which team goes through to the final it looks set to be a spectacular game.