Africa Cup of Nations Wrap Up 1.26.08

Nine goals in Africa Cup of Nations Group C today, as Cameroon roared back to put five past Zambia, while Egypt saw off Sudan without too many fireworks.

Meanwhile Samuel Et’oo became the joint-top Africa Cup of Nations scorer of all time, which is why he looks so happy (left.)

The good news for Zambia is that the team showed up for the game. There were threats of a boycott after the team were short-changed on their win bonus after beating Sudan 3-0, but the Zambian authorities got it together and paid the promised amount to settle the row. Bad news is that they lost 5-1.

Cameroon boss Otto Pfister rang the changes, ditching Mohammadou Idrissou for Joseph Desire Job and the disappointing Jean II Makoun for Achille Emana. Good decisions both as Job scored twice and Emana once in the Indomitable Lions 5-1 win. Emana was particularly impressive and part of all that was good going forward in Cameroon’s midfield.

Zambia were lively and never gave up (which is how they earned that late consolation goal) but made at least three horrendous defensive mistakes to keep gifting goals to Cameroon.

Good news for the Indomiatble Lions then as they bounce back from defeat to Egypt and confirm that they are actually pretty damn good. The cherry on top was that Eto’o’s penalty (which he earned by first winning a free kick and then seeing a Zambian defender handle his shot from said free kick) makes him joint top scorer in Africa Cup of Nations history with 14 goals. One more in this tournament (maybe against Sudan?) and Eto’o will become the Africa Cup of Nations all time top scorer. Which could be worse.

Egypt 3-0 Sudan

Proof that football mathematics isn’t straightforward:

1. Egypt were two goals better than Cameroon.
2. Cameroon were four goals better than Zambia.
3. Zambia were three goals better than Sudan.

Therefore… Egypt should have been beaten Sudan 9-0.

Except it doesn’t work like that. Though Egypt were easily the better team, Sudan came out fighting. Almost literally. There were some very rough tackles and fouls from the Desert Hawks. Mohamed Zidan had to be subbed off after a Sudan defender actually kicked him while he was down, in the shoulder.

Hosny scored another penalty (after retaking it, as against Cameroon) but Egypt looked short of that second goal. Until Mohamed Aboutreika (or Abo Treka, if you prefer) replaced Zidan and added some class. Zaki unselfishly squared for the Al-Ahly attacker to score in the 75th and in the 81st Aboutreika faked to cross but snuck a shot inside the near post instead.

Sudan aren’t officially finished, but would need to beat Cameroon by a ton of goals in the final game. Not gonna happen. Egypt now have six points and are through to the quarter-finals provided they don’t take a beating from Zambia, which also isn’t going to happen.