Of course!! It is the final of the 26th edition of the African Cup of Nations, AFCON, pitting the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Pharaohs of Egypt. 

These are two football power houses on the African continent but in more than two decades, Egypt has been imposing itself as a bet noire to Cameroon’s football career. Tonight’s game is another opportunity either for Cameroon to once more succumb to Egyptian domination or break out from the yoke.

Officially, Cameroon and Egypt at the national football squad level have had about twelve opportunities to play matches. I will quickly give you some high moments in these, which most Cameroonians readily worry about. In 1984, Cameroon opened AFCON 1984 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, with a one-nil spanking from the Pharaohs. This reporter vividly remembers that the goal came at the 4th minute of play in the match and after 90 minutes, the scoreboard did not change. However, the Lions were never dampened in spirit and moved on to win the trophy.

1986, a formidable Cameroonian team came back to AFCON 1986, hosted by Egypt, to do a remake of 1984. Sure! The Lions worked extra hard and got to the grande finale. Once more, destiny or not found the Lions at the final with the Pharaohs. It was a tension-packed final, witnesses say. Some observers who made it to Cairo for that final argue that the political atmosphere in Egypt at the time of the final worked in favour of the Egypt squad to win the post match penalty shoot outs. Cameroon again suffered another defeat from Egypt.

1996, another Egypt – Cameroon encounter came up. This time, it was AFCON 1996 in South Africa. In their second group match after losing to South Africa 3-0, in the opener, the LIONS trounced the Egyptian Pharaohs 2 -1, a double from goal poacher at the time Franςois Omam Biyick.

October 5 2005, the people of Cameroon and the players of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon received a very bitter pill from the Pharaohs. Cameroon was stopped by Egypt to pick up a ticket to World Cup 2006 in Germany. After an initial 3-0 walloping in Cairo, by the Egyptians on Cameroon for their group eliminatories for the African zone for the World Cup 2006, the Lions succeeded to grab their points else where, but a one-all-tie with the Egyptians in Yaounde, served as a speed brake for the Lions not to take a flight to Germany 2006.

It was so painful!! Cameroonians like the players of the Indomitable Lions, most of them still in the present squad in Accra, shared tears. Again! Egypt pulled out a devastating blow on the face of Cameroon football. A football crazy
nation like Cameroon was put at a fixed for many months. Cameroon is yet to forgive Egypt for that series slaps. Will they be able to reverse the tides tonight? That’s the million dollar question the players and Cameroonians have on their lips.

January 22 at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana, Egypt had another chance with Cameroon in an AFCON group match. The Egyptians were merciless on Cameroon, stunning them 4-2. It was another disgrace from Egypt still. Cameroonians were perplexed! Is it an Egyptian spell on Cameroon? Cameroonians and others asked.

Tonight! It will be an ultimate moment for Cameroon to put a stop to that Egyptian hegemony. On recent interviews aired on Cameroon Radio & TV, Cameroonian players in Ghana have promised to say NO!! to Egypt. It is ENOUGH!! That will be seen tonight at the last blast of the referee’s whistle either after 90 minutes, 120 minutes or after post match penalty shoot outs.

The world is waiting, the African continent too, Cameroonians in general and the Indomitable Lions in Ghana in particular.


Go to the Ghana CAN 2008 page

Go to the fixture & result overview

Keywords: ghana_can