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Ghana versus Cameroon: A tight fixture
indeed!
By Richard Avornyotse- GNA Sports Desk
Accra, Feb. 6, GNA - Four time winners Ghana and Cameroon
clash on Thursday at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra
to determine who goes into the final of the 26th African Cup
of Nations. It is a tight fixture indeed!
The winner will get the chance to play for a fifth title on
Sunday against title holders, Egypt or Cote d'Ivoire, who
play in the other semi final match in Kumasi the same day.
Ghana reached this stage of the championship with a 100 per
cent record, having recorded victories over all opponents in
the four matches played so far while Cameroon faltered in
their first match against Egypt but bounced back with
impressive wins to reach the semis.
Though both countries are on record as having been crowned
four times, there is great difference between the
generations of footballers, who crafted those records for
Ghana and Cameroon.
Ghana savoured her last continental glory in Libya in 1982,
two clear years before Cameroon kissed the cup for the first
time.
While Ghana, the first four-time record holders went into a
slumber, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon went on the prowl
from 1984 and within 18 short soccer years, involving nine
championships, the Cameroonians have won four titles to
equal Ghana's record.
Based on the eras the two countries chalked continental
successes, Cameroon will be favoured by pundits to get into
the final on Sunday.
But the records also show that Cameroon won two of their
titles in 2000 and 2002 through penalty shootouts, which are
equal to a rolling dice in a game of chance.
The current generation of Ghanaian players has a team spirit
that had been the missing element in the Black Stars for
over two decades.
They are bound together by a resolve to succeed and that
fuels their level of commitment when they play for Ghana.
Without injured substantive skipper, Stephen Appiah and
suspended stand in Captain, John Mensah, the Black Stars
will be deprived of two principal actors.
That notwithstanding, the Current Captain, Michael Essien
has assured Ghanaians that they would eliminate Cameroon to
book a date in the grand finale.
Coach Claude Le Roy, who guided Cameroon to their second
title in 1988, is very much aware of the playing pattern of
the Lions and the department in which they are most
dangerous.
Similarly, he knows their weak points and where they are
most vulnerable.
The Indomitable Lions might be very sharp in attack where
they boast of Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o Fils; Joseph Desiree
Job; Mohamed Idrissou and Stephane Mbia.
Le Roy might load the midfield and tighten the back line to
thwart their foray into Ghana's attacking third. The Black
Stars must avoid committing infringements close to their
penalty box as Geremi Ngitap has the ability to convert from
dead ball situations within 30 metres.
A very mobile and swift attacking formation by the Black
Stars could prove the Achilles heel of the Cameroonians. A
racing Manuel Junior Agogo, the galloping pace of Haminu
Draman, the velocity and power of Sulley Ali Muntari and the
foxtrot steps of Quincy Owusu Abeyie would plunge Rigobert
Song and his defensive allies into serious trouble.
The aging Cameroonian skipper has shown signs of cracking
under pressure and the Ghanaian front men have enough
potential to make him buckle .
All points to a fierce battle but it looks like Ghana, due
to their resolve and unflinching team spirit, coupled with
the massive support they get from their teeming and
vociferous supporters.
The other confrontation between defending champions, Egypt
and Cote d'Ivoire will be another hell of a match.
Didier Drogba and his colleagues are very highly rated and
have not disappointed since the commencement of the
championship.
Their attack is razor sharp, no wonder they have scored 13
goals in four matches and have conceded just a single goal,
a testimony of their tight defence as well.
Aruna Dindane, Aruna Kone and Salomon Kalou are players, who
can always complement Drogba's goal scoring efforts, while
Yaya Toure and Emmanuel Ebue have the knack to turn defence
into attack at any given time.
The Pharaohs are also not wanting in the depth of talent
that could sway a match result in favour of a team.
Coach Mohamed Shehata has a reliable pair of hands in
goalkeeper Esam Hadary, whose huge frame freezes the
confidence of attackers.
He will also rely on dependable players like skipper Ahmed
Hassan, Mohamed Shawky and Amir Zaki to hold the Ivorians,
while he dispatches Mohamed Zidan and Mohamed Aboutrika to
engage in exploitative adventure in the territory of the
opponents.
It will be tight from start to finish and the team with the
better game plan and deeper concentration will triumph in
the end.
GNA
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