Connect with us

Sports

AFCON: Cameroon beat Ghana to set up Egypt final

Published

on

AFCON: Cameroon beat Ghana to set up Egypt final

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon defeated the Black Stars of Ghana 2-0 on Thursday night to set up a final showdown with seven-time champions Egypt at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

The two sides with their many efforts scored no goal through the first half, and remained goalless for more than 25 minutes in the second half. Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui took advantage of an error in defense from a free-kick to lash in the opener in the 72nd minute.

Ghana went close through Wakaso Mubarak and Christian Atsu. But every attempt, even a shot from Ayew that went by the side of the post, proved abortive. But with seconds remaining, Christian Bassogog sealed victory for the Lions when he applied a deft finish to a counter-attack.

“It is a real dream for us to get to the final,” Cameroon coach Hugo Broos said after the match.

“Ghana have more experience than us – look at what they have done in recent tournaments. But since the start of this tournament we have shown we keep going right to the end in every game.

“I am very happy, especially for the team. They are an exemplary group on and off the field and they deserve to be in the final,” the Belgian coach added.

Read Also: Ayew brothers star as Ghana make AFCON semi-finals

The Black Stars, who last won the competition in 1982, have now lost their bid of winning the African championship to end the thirty-five years’ title drought. But they will face Burkina Faso in the third-place match on Saturday. ​

“I am more than unhappy. We wanted so much to be in the final,” Ghana coach Avram Grant said.

“We did everything to be there and in the second half we completely dominated. Congratulations to Cameroon of course but we were the better side and we lost,” he stated.

As for the Indomitable Lions, they’ve just booked their seventh Africa Cup of Nations final, to play against seven-time champions. It will be the third time both teams will be meeting in the final of the biennial tournament. In the past two meetings, Egypt defeated Cameroon – in 1986 on penalties, 5-4 – and in 2008 in regulation time, 1-0.

The final showdown of the 2017 AFCON will hold in Libreville, Gabon on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now