Angola shots

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Hassan's new record

EGYPT captain Ahmed Hassan set a new record as Africa's most capped international when the defending champions met Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final in Benguela on Monday 25 January.

It marked the 170th cap for the 34-year-old midfielder, who has already won three Nations Cup titles and remains the driving force behind his team from his busy role in the midfield.

He breaks the record held by compatriot Hossam Hassan, a former teammate.

Saudi Arabia's Mohamed Al-Deayea (181) and Mexico's Claudio Suarez (178) remain clear of the playmaker in the all-time appearance record-holders' list.

"It is a great honour for me to break the record. It has always been an honour to be called up and to wear the national jersey. I'm very happy and proud," he said.

Hassan made his national team debut in 1995, first picked by Dutch coach Ruud Krol, and was selected for the 1996 Nations Cup finals in South Africa but did not play.

He has played at seven successive tournaments since, scoring in the final when Egypt beat South Africa in Ouagadougou in 1998.

"That would be the game that was the turning point for me but I'm happy to have played a lot of matches and had a lot of highlights."

He was named player of the tournament when Egypt won the Nations Cup in 2006 and was influential again in their triumph in Ghana two years ago.

But for all his success on the contingent, which also includes an African Champions League medal with Cairo club Ahli, Hassan has not managed to make it to the World Cup finals.

Egypt was knocked out of the 2010 finals in South Africa after losing a tempestuous play-off to Algeria in November.

"That was exceedingly disappointing and was probably my last chance to go to the World Cup," Hassan said. "But to be a three-time African champion is probably better than playing a single match at the World Cup."

Hassan has no plans to stop his international career after the tournament in Angola, where the Pharaohs are seeking an unprecedented third successive title.

Egypt play England at Wembley in March and European champions Spain in June and Hassan said: "As long as the national team needs me and as long as I can add something to the team, I will be available."

Renard has high hopes

ZAMBIA coach Herve Renard says he is keen to take charge of a top African team when his contract expires in July.

The Frenchman, 41, led his team into their first ACN quarter-final in 14 years before going down to Nigeria in the quarter-finals on penalties.

Despite reviving Chipolopolo, Renard says his ambition is to soon work with a higher profile team than Zambia.

"I know what I want, I'm very ambitious and I'm not scared to say so," said Renard, who assisted Claude Le Roy with Ghana two years ago.

"I said even before this tournament that I wish to be coach of a very top team one day.

"I'm young but I'm not scared of anything.

"Now I can speak English and I'm French, so it's only the Portuguese-speaking countries like Angola and Mozambique that would be difficult for me to work with because the language is very important.

"But if they qualify for the World Cup, I will sign immediately for them.

"But really, I would want to stay in Africa with a bigger team. Claude Le Roy explained to me a lot of things about Africa.

"There are good things and bad things in Africa, but he said his heart is always in Africa. I'm the same now. I like this continent."

The Frenchman admitted his time with the Chipolopolo of Zambia may soon come to an end.

"My contract will finish very soon, in a few months," he said.

"I'm not sure I want to extend or renew my contract, so even if they don't want me, it won't be a problem."

Swan songs

MOZAMBIQUE striker Tico Tico has called time on his international career following his team's elimination from the ACN.

The Black Mamba's captain had announced that this would be his last tournament with the team.

The 36-year-old, whose real name is Manuel Bucuane, will continue to play his club football with Jomo Cosmos in the South African Premier League.

Mozambique was beaten in their final group game against Nigeria in Lubango.

After the game Tico Tico, who is his country's most capped player, said he felt sad that his international career has ended with a defeat.

"For me it's a farewell," he said.

"It didn't end the way I hoped it would end, nevertheless I'm happy with all I've done for the national team," he added.

Tico Tico began his international career 18 years ago playing over 80 times and is also Mozambique's leading goal scorer.

He says he will look back at his international career with pride.

"I've really enjoyed myself," he told the BBC.

"I've played in three Nations Cup tournaments, we haven't achieved much as a team but personally I think that's an achievement.

"I just wish all the best for the up and coming [players]. They must work hard and try to do better next time."

Frederic Kanoute had earlier announced his retirement from international football following Mali's elimination from the ACN.

The Sevilla striker scored 23 goals in 38 appearances since opting to play for the Eagles over France in 2004.

Mali bowed out of the Nations Cup in the group stage despite beating Malawi 3-1 and scoring seven goals in total -- including two from Kanoute.

"I can't find the words to describe how upset I am," Kanoute said.

"It really hurts me. After we were knocked out in 2008 we really wanted to do well here.

"For my last appearance in this competition I wanted to go as far as possible.

"That's life. I'm sorry I couldn't succeed in helping my team go further at the Nations Cup, which now marks my retirement," added the 2007 Caf African Footballer of the Year.

The French-born forward scored in Mali's remarkable comeback in the 4-4 opening game draw against hosts Angola.

But he was dropped to the bench for the Eagles' 1-0 loss to Algeria and failed to make an impact from the bench.

He scored his second of the tournament in Mali's 3-1 victory over the Flames, a win that would be rendered meaningless under the organisers' head-to-head rules that would see Algeria advance in their place.