31 games and close to three weeks of action later, everything comes down to this game. One will walk way with the tag of African champions, the other will wait for his day. Egypt vs Cameroon was not a final that most pundits had predicted, but that is what we will get to see in Accra. And if the Ghana Ivory Coast game was any indication, this one will be a cracker.

Egypt have five AFCON titles to their name, and are bidding to win their sixth one. They are also defending champions, and have been impressive throughout the tournament. It started off with a 4-2 win over Cameroon in a Group C game, followed by a win over Sudan and a draw with Zambia. They saw off a stiff challenge from Angola in the last eight and stunned Ivory Coast with a sublime display in the semifinals. Hasan Shehata is aiming for a second consecutive African Cup of Nations title. If he does so, he will equal Charles Gyamfi’s record. Shehata has assembled a team that know their basics well. Players like Mohamed Aboutrika, Amr Zaki, Mohamed Zidan and Hosni Abd Rabou have been the main men on the scoresheet for the Pharaohs. The Egyptians, with the likes of Wael Gomaa, Sayed Moawad and co. at the back will be up for a physical game with the powerful Cameroonians. Mohamed Shawky is fit, after missing the semifinal. Zaki and Rabo have scored four goals each. Will Mohamed Zidan start ? He, was, after all the man who scored two out of the four goals in the opening game.

Cameroon started the tournament in the worst possible way, but have produced an amazing turnaround. Wins over Sudan, Zambia, Tunisia and Ghana after an opening loss to Egypt have provided coach Otto Pfister with a chance to win his first AFCON. Defender Andre Bikey is suspended, and that will come as a blow. The Egyptians were quick on the counter against Ivory Coast, and composed men like Kolo Toure and Abdoulaye Meite were caught on the backfoot. This will be a stern test for ageing captain Rigobert Song, who will have to marshal the defence extremely well to stop the rampaging Egyptian forward line. Pfister has said that Alexandre Song will be fit. Song was the man whose introduction sparked off a revival from Cameroon after they trailed 0-3 against Egypt. Upfront Samuel E’too will face a quality goalkeeper in Essam Al Hadari, who denied Didier Drogba with some great saves in the semifinal.E’too is top scorer in this tournament with five, and has often distracted opposition defenders so that his fellow Lions get opportunities to score. Geremi has been one of the players of the tournament.

Cameroon are aiming for their fifth title. Egypt will start as favourites tonight. The two teams met in 1986, with Egypt winning the final on penalties. Somehow, Bikey’s absence might help Egypt, and they should win this game by two or three goals to one. Zidan, Aboutrika and Zaki for Egypt, Job/ E’too for the Indomitable Lions. But write off Cameroon at your own peril, and do not be surprised if the match goes to penalties.

In a match which many people would have expected to be the final, hosts Ghana take on Ivory Coast in the third place playoff at the African Cup of Nations at the Baba Yara stadium.

Ghana’s 0-1 loss to Cameroon in the semifinals would have come as a big blow to the host nation. Alain Nkong’s second half goal was enough to condemn Ghana to their first third place playoff since 1996, when they lost to Zambia and ended up finishing fourth. It will be tough for coach Claude Le Roy to lift his players barely forty eight hours after being thrown out of the tournament. One must remember that Ghana were without suspended skipper John Mensah and the injured Gyan Asamoah and Laryea Kingston. Mensah will return, but Kingston and Asamoah are still doubts and Le Roy may prefer to rest them. The focus, as usual, will be on the midfield duo of Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari. If Ivory Coast play full strength, they will clash against the likes of Toure and Zokora.

Ivory Coast were stunned 1-4 by Egypt in their semifinal. The Elephants had not put a foot wrong till the semifinal, yet everything went wrong in those ninety minutes in Kumasi. Egypt proved to be too strong for them and Gerard Gili’s team just could not break though.The Elephants will seek consolation by picking up third spot. Goalkeeper Boucabar Barry will not play after being injured in the game. He will be replaced by Greuter Furth goalkeeper Stephan Loboue. Kolo Toure was nowhere near his best against Egypt, but Ghana lack Egypt’s potency, speed and skill upfront. Junior Agogo and Asamoah Gyan are just not the same as Amr Zaki, Emad Moteab, Mohamed Zidan and Mohamed Aboutreika. Ivory Coast’s last third place playoff in this tournament came in the 1994 edition of the tournament, when they beat Mali 3-1. The same year, they beat Ghana 2-1 in the quarters. Ghana gained revenge in a group encounter in 1996, which they won 2-0 thanks to goals from Abedi Pele and Anthony Yeboah. Abedi’s son Andre Ayew could play in the starting eleven for Ghana.

A game between two teams who have had their hopes crushed. We may not see a very high quality game if the players are unable to pick themselves up, but Ivory Coast to sneak this by two goals to nil. Keita and Kalou scoring.

Hassan Shehata is the last African coach standing and his Egyptian team meet Ivory Coast in a repeat of the 2006 final that the Pharaohs won on penalties.

Egypt have won the tournament five times, more than any of the remaining three semifinalists. They beat Cameroon and Sudan, drew with Zambia and saw off the challenge of a determined Angolan side en route to the semis. Hassan Shehata has many talented attacking players at his disposal- Hosni Abd Rabou, Mohamed Zidan, Mohamed Aboutreika, Amr Zaki and Emad Motaeb. Zidan is unlikely to start this game as he has yet not recovered fully from the injury that kept him out against Angola. He might be used as a substitute in the second half. Another injury worry for Shehata would be Mohamed Shawky, whose absence could make it easy for the likes of Yaya Toure and Didier Zokora. Shehata’s only competitive defeat as Egypt manager came in a World Cup qualifier against Ivory Coast, but the Pharaohs had their revenge in the 2006 AFCON, beating the Elephants 3-1 in the group stage and winning the final on penalties.

Ivory Coast have not put a foot wrong in this tournament. They cruised through the Group of Death, beating Nigeria, Benin and Mali and followed it up with a 5-0 thrashing of Guinea in the quarterfinal. Only one player has been able to find the back of the net against them- Benin’s Razak Omotoyossi. Guinea were without Feinduono, and Egypt with their attacking flair should pose a stiff challenge to the Kolo Toure less Ivory Coast team. Toure’s presence would help them no doubt, but as things stand now, it looks likely. Drogba, Kader Keita and Salomon Kalou have been enjoying life in Ghana, pumping in goals without difficulty. With thirteen goals for and just one goal against, it would not be wrong to proclaim Ivory Coast favourites for this Kumasi clash.

Egypt want to defend their title, Ivory Coast want to prove to the world that they are the strongest team in Africa. In comparison to Egypt, Ivory Coast had an extremely easy last eight game. If they play as a team there is no reason why they cannot defeat the Pharaohs. But Egypt will prove to be a stern test, tougher than any of the games the Elephants have played so far. Ivory Coast to edge it 2-1 in extra time- Drogba, Kalou and Zaki on the scoresheet.

On the eve of coach Claude Le Roy’s sixtieth birthday, hosts Ghana meet Cameroon in the first semifinal of the African Cup of Nations at the Ohene Djan stadium in Accra.

Ghana have won four games out of four enroute to this clash as they aim for their fifth AFCON title and their first since 1992. Ironically, Cameroon coach Otto Pfister was in charge of the Ghana team that came second in 1992. Ghana topped Group A ahead of Guinea, Morocco and Namibia and one wouldn’t blame a Black Stars fan for thinking that the tournament was won after their quarterfinal win over Nigeria with 10 men. John Mensah is suspended for this one, and it remains to be seen who comes into central defence. Shilia Illiasu is an obvious choice, but he is short on match fitness, and putting him directly against E’too and co. may not be the best decision. That means Michael Essien, who will captain Ghana in this team, moves back. Essien isn’t new to the job, having done it for Chelsea and against Nigeria, but if he goes back, Ghana will miss his presence in the centre of the park. Gyan Asamoah is likely to miss this game with a groin injury. Ghana are also doubtful about the fitness of Laryea Kingston and Nigeria match winner Junior Agogo.

Cameroon have also won the same number of titles as their semifinal opponents, and also have Claude Le Roy to thank for one of their titles won 20 years ago. After being beaten 2-4 by Egypt in their opening game, Cameroon bounced back with wins over Sudan and Zambia and beat Tunisia in an extra time thriller thanks to Stephane Mbia’s brace. Cameroon have found the back of the net 13 times in four games, and five of those have come from E’too. The Barcelona forward is on top of the goalcharts this year in Ghana, and it is unlikely that somebody will catch up with him. This will worry Le Roy, given that there is no John Mensah in his squad. This is Cameroon’s first quarterfinal appearance since 2002, when they won their fourth title. That year, they beat hosts Mali in the semis. Cameroon have strong players and are full of energy, although the game against Tunisia would have sapped some of it.

The game to end in 1-1 draw, going to penalties, and Ghana to win it there. Ghana have home support, and Claude Le Roy and Otto Pfister might just cancel each other out. The last two games between these two teams have ended in stalemates.

Four time African Cup of Nations winners Cameroon face 2004 champions Tunisia in the last quarterfinal of this year’s tournament in Tamale.

The Indomitable Lions qualified second behind Egypt, to whom they lost 2-4 in their opening game. However, convincing wins over Zambia and Sudan saw Cameroon make it to the quarterfinals for the sixth time in a row. Samuel E’too has overtaken Laurent Pokou as the highest goal scorer in AFCON history, and all eyes will again be trained on the Barcelona forward. E’too and Joseph Job against Jaidi and Haggui will be interesting to watch. Cameroon scored more goals than any other team in the group stage- 10, but one must remember that five of them came against Sudan. When the AFCON was last played in Ghana in 2000, Cameroon were the champions. And they defeated a North African team in the quarterfinals- Algeria, before beating Tunisia in the semis and Nigeria in the finals. They lost to Ivory Coast in the quarterfinals in 2006 in a marathon penalty shootout. Coach Otto Pfister and the fans will believe that they have the team to win the tournament this time around.

Tunisia, despite putting up a string of impressive performances over the years, continue to be an underestimated side. And it is no wonder that Roger Lemerre’s Carthage Eagles are not considered the favourites to win this, despite qualifying on top of a group that also included Angola, Senegal and South Africa. After giving youngster Amine Chermiti a starting spot against Angola, Lemerre is likely to revert back to his favoured pairing of Dos Santos and Chikhaoui upfront. Saben Ben Fradj and Yassin Mikari, who often come up the flanks to offer support to the attackers, are likely to be replaced by more defensive minded players in Wissem El Bekri and Radhouane Felhi so as to not give Cameroon space at the back. Ben Saada is likely to perform the connecting role between midfield and attack while Mnari, Nafti and Traoui slug it out in midfield. Issam Jemaa and Ben Dhifallah should be on the bench, and might be introduced late on to give Song and Bikey a headache with their pace.

Tunisia to progress into the semifinals. Dos Santos and Chikhaoui to score. E’too to bag one for Cameroon.

Unfancied Angola take on Egypt in their first ever knockout stage appearance in the history of the African Cup of Nations at the Baba Yara stadium in Kumasi.

Angola have been the surprise package of the tournament. They were in the lead for most of the game against South Africa, but drew 1-1. They shocked Senegal 3-1 after being down 0-1 at half time, and played out a dour 0-0 draw against Tunisia in their last group game. The Palancas Negras have exceeded all expectations, but the fans and the players know that they are capable of better. They are also the only Southern African nation left at this year’s tournament. Flavio and Manucho have been deadly upfront, and Egypt have to devise a plan to cope with the crosses that are bound to float into their box. Two of their players, Flavio and Gilberto ply their trade for Al Ahly, and will know the style of most of the Egyptian players.

Defending champions Egypt started off well, beating Cameroon 4-2 and Sudan 3-0 before drawing with Zambia to win Group C with seven points. With the likes of Hosni Abd Rabou in midfield and Mohamed Zidan, Emad Motaeb and Amr Zaki upfront, Egypt are not short on attacking firepower. Mahmoud Fathalla returns from suspension and is likely to be the man to mark Flavio, for his partner Wael did a poor job of it when Egypt played Angola in a friendly a few months ago. Fathalla is not new to the job- he did it when Zamalek played Al Ahly in the Cairo Derby. At this stage in 2006, Egypt met Congo and thrashed them 4-1.

In a friendly between Egypt and Angola prior to this game, the match ended in a 3-3 tie. Both teams would have had time to analyze each other and pinpoint the weaknesses. Egypt are the favourites, but the Angolans seem to be able to raise their game to another level when they need it the most. A narrow win for the Pharaohs 2-1, with Motaeb, Abd Rabou and Manucho/ Flavio on the scoresheet. Do not be surprised if Angola continue to defy the Odds though.