Africa Cup of Nations Final Preview - What the Managers Say

After three weeks of mostly brilliant football, there’s just one game to go. Egypt vs Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations Final. Egypt have arguably looked the better team, especially with their majestic 4-1 win over Cote d’Ivoire in the semifinal, but Cameroon seem to keep getting the job done.

Egypt have already beaten Cameroon once, dismantling the Indomitable Lions 4-2 in the Group C opener back on January 22nd. But both teams are going into this making confident noises. Cameroon coach Otto Pfister says that first game doesn’t matter now:

It (the opening match) was our first official game. I hardly had any time to work with the team before then. The preparation was very different. Everyone said we should go to Spain to prepare, but I took a decision to go to Ouagadougou (in Burkina Faso). We only had 10 days in the same (West African) weather and we worked very, very hard and I think that has now paid off.

He also doesn’t care what journalists have been saying about his team.

What the hell do they know? They said Rigobert Song was too old - but during this tournament he’s shown that he’s still the best defender in Africa. They said Geremi was too old too, but has he looked tired? They said I was mad to pick Alexandre Song because he’s just a kid - but he’s been outstanding.

Great stuff. I love an angry manager. Egypt’s Hassan Shehata is equally confident, but a whole lot calmer.

I have great respect for Cameroon but I’m very confident that my players will do the job as they’re motivated to keep the Cup. Up to now they’ve proved they are the best - we’ll continue in the same vein, working hard and hope that it will do the trick.

The two men represent two trends in African football management. Otto Pfister is the quintessential European coach for hire. The 70 year old German has previously managed Rwanda, Burkino Faso (back when it was called Upper Volta), Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Zaire Ghana and Togo. He knows his African onions, but the closest he came to Cup of Nations glory was finishing runner up with Ghana in 1992. To finally take the trophy this year would cap off a long career in African football very nicely.

Hassam Shehata on the other hand is Egyptian, one of only four African managers at the the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. He won the tournament with Egypt last time out in 2006, and so is aiming to become only the second manager to win back to back African Cup of Nations since Charles Gyamfi did it with Ghana in 1963 and 1965.