Sizzling start
Egypt made a super debut at the Africa Cup of Nations after beating giants Cameroon 4-2.
Inas Mazhar reports from Kumasi, venue of Egypt's Group C
Nobody expected the Pharaohs to silence more than 25,000 spectators at the Baba Yara Syadium here in Kumasi but that's exactly what happened after they outclassed the Indomitable Lions 4-2 in the opening match of the group. The modest qualifying results of the defending African champions and their build-up to the tournament in no way prepared the road for the lopsided victory.
Cameroon, with all its professional stars, led by Samuel Eto'o, was backed up by an impressive crowd of home fans and supporters.
But Egypt made a quick start to the game. Three minutes into the match, Middlesbrough Mohamed Shawki tested Cameroon goalkeeper Carlos Kameni by firing a strong low shot from a long range.
Two minutes later, Egypt earned a penalty when defender Andre Bikey handled in the box in the 14th minute. Hosni Abd Rabou was forced to shoot the penalty twice. He scored the first time but it was replayed after the referee whistled for goalkeeping movement.
Later on, Abd Rabou said he was not worried about missing the second penalty. "I'm known to be an expert in playing penalty kicks in Egypt. I'm used to all situations, so when it didn't come the first time, I wasn't disappointed or worried. I was still in control and knew it would be scored," he said.
Sensational striker Mohamed Zidan made it 2-0 three minutes later, breaking from inside his own half, exchanging a give and go with Emad Meteb before racing through the Cameroon defence and slotting home.
Four-time African champions Cameroon stood frozen as if in shock, watching as Zidan celebrate his goal by taking off one shoe and bobbling it with his hand as if it was too hot to handle.
In first-half stoppage time, Zidan struck again, chesting the ball down outside the box and striking home powerfully.
"I am very happy to have scored twice especially since this is my first participation in the Africa Cup of Nations," Zidan said. "I had really wanted to take part two years ago in Egypt but I missed it, but I'm glad with this victory.
"Cameroon is a strong team and I was really looking forward to not only playing this match but scoring as well. I have been waiting for this match a long time.
"I believe that now, with the team gaining confidence, Egypt have a chance to win the title and we are here for this purpose. We want to show we are strong enough to keep the cup for the second time in a row.
"We're giving everything we have, for our fans for our country, and I'm sure that we are going to reach the final," the 26-year-old Hamburg striker added.
Down 3-0 in the second half Cameroon began playing with purpose and pulled one back on 51 minutes as Eto'o headed in a Geremi cross into the net of Egypt's goalkeeper Essam El-Hadari. Eto'o nearly added another 12 minutes later, shooting just wide.
Egypt began to dampen Cameroon's momentum and Abd Rabou's superb 25-yard shot sealed the victory for the Egyptians with eight minutes to go. Cameroon's hopes in coming back had effectively ended.
However, Cameroon did score again with an Eto'o penalty in stoppage time. It was Eto's 13th Nations Cup goal, leaving him just one behind the record held by Laurent Pokou of the Ivory Coast.
Following the match, Cameroon's German coach Otto Pfister briefly told reporters in a post-match press conference that his team had done its best "but this is football and anything can happen and they weren't lucky enough to win."
Eto'o said it was difficult for the players because they did not have enough playing time together. "We didn't have time to prepare for the match and so everyone played individually. Still we have a chance to continue. There are still two matches in the group and we will do our best," he said.
Rumours in the Cameroonian camp claim that there is an ongoing dispute between the Cameroonian federation and the Ministry of Sports whose minister had insisted on hiring Pfister just two months before the tournament.
Pfister had put his team under siege in a separate hotel from other teams, preventing the media from getting close to either himself or the players. No media, public or fans were allowed into the hotel and were kicked out if spotted. No interviews were accorded, even in the training sessions.
Press officer of the Cameroonian team Jean Jacques explained the attitude by saying the Egypt game was big and that Pfister needed his players to focus and concentrate on the game.
The happiest person that day was the Egyptian head coach Hassan Shehata, who is seeking a second consecutive title.
"All I can say is that I really am happy, not only about the result but the players performance. They followed my instructions and transformed it into goals.
"Cameroon is a big team and beating them is great. I think this is a good start for us in the tournament and it will give us a big push to the final stages.
"But still, I need to work a lot with my players because we are the champions and we need to take the cup back to Egypt again. Everybody wants this."
Shehata would not reveal his plans for the next two games. "Now, we are through with the strongest match in the group. We'll focus on the other two matches. We don't want to underestimate our opponents because all the teams that have reached here are strong enough to finally end up with the cup."
Despite the 4-2 scoreline score, it is the Zambians who now top Group C on goal difference after an impressive 3-0 win over Sudan.
The Pharaohs, who arrived last Thursday to defend their title, had missed two training sessions before the opener after the team was stranded at Accra Airport due to the absence of a plane to take the players and the officials to Kumasi. Only the Egyptian ambassador and his staff were waiting for the team in the airport. No officials from the organising committee were present.
From the first day here in Ghana it was obvious that soccer fever has gripped Ghanaians who, from all walks of life and even foreigners, are clad in the national colours or apparels relating to the soccer tournament. Ghana's national flag as well those of the sponsors have been on display on cars.
The fever has not only gripped men but women as well. More than 1,000 women wearing T-shirts of the colours of the flag of Ghana -- red, gold and green -- from the Women Supporters' Union of Ghana gave massive support to the Black Stars during the opening match and will continue doing so until the end of the tournament.
On all major roads in Accra, especially in the central business district, along the Airport Road and other ceremonial streets, women are seen dressed in different kinds of paraphernalia, including T-shirts, mufflers, armbands and hats of different shapes and sizes, while some are also wearing earrings, necklaces and slippers designed in the national colours of red gold and green. They are also involved in the sale of these items which include key chains, flags, whistles, cups and mugs.
The host nation is relying on Ghana 2008 to improve conditions in the country. An editorial in The Daily Graphic here in Ghana said: "By hosting the tournament, Ghana stands to gain a lot. Our good performance in the tournament will not only bring goodwill to our country but also provide immense opportunity for our teeming youth to see tournament paraphernalia and earn some income. The Daily Graphic would like to remind our countrymen and women that it is not enough to relish our national colours. We should be seen in practical terms as relishing these colours and so anything that identifies Ghana and inspires 'action' in our warriors, the Black Stars, should be made use of."
One of the other blessings that Ghana 2008 had brought to this country, according to the same newspaper, is that the Nations Cup will enhance clean environment in Accra. The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), in partnership with Zoomlion, churches and submetros, embarked on serious clean-up exercises to rid the city of the filth which has engulfed it. People have been engaged in cleaning beaches for the use of tourists. A thousand cleaners have been recruited to clean the stadiums and their surroundings as part of a nationwide exercise to improve upon sanitation in the country.
Pavements along the major streets in the four cities have also been painted and officials have appealed to the general public to keep the environment clean.
By the start of the event, many suburbs of Accra which were unsightly are now clean and refreshing.
Here in Kumasi, around Baba Yara Stadium, the environment is pleasantly friendly. Residents have painted their houses beautifully and have been sweeping their surroundings daily. Food vendors are also being asked to ensure that where they sell is clean.
Egypt defender Ahmed Fathi clears against Cameroon photo: AFP
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