The 26th African Cup of Nations in terms of sheer entertainment value has been one of the best ever. The games have been exciting and full of goals, big name stars and end to end entertainment. Group stage is over and the deserving eight moves into the knock out stage which will kick-start today.
Super Eagle vs. Host: NIGERIA VERSUS GHANA
The rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana goes back decades, on May, 28 1950 to be precise when the Nigerian team then known as the ‘Red Devils’ meet Ghana for a friendly the Black stars of Ghana won 1-0. Today’s match will be a far cry from those days in many respects but the rivalry remains intense as ever.
The game would be a battle of the Midfields Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari versus Seyi Olofijana and John Mikel Obi. Ghana has the edge in this respect and when you add home advantage plus a more convincing march to the finals, it would be hard to argue against Ghana
Nigeria’s hopes rest on a rejuvenated squad who hope to capitalise on the lucky escape in qualifying for the quarter-finals, but it might be a bridge too for a squad that has appeared poorly motivated and uninspiring so far.
COTE D’IVOIRE VERSUS GUINEA
Cote d’Ivoire have been imperious in their march to the quarter-finals, oozing quality across the team from their talismanic captain Didier Drogba, through the combative midfield exemplified by Yaya Toure to the almost impregnable Defence marshalled by Yaya’s elder brother Kolo Toure.
If anything this imperious form may be their weakness, they remain vulnerable to complacency and over –confidence which Guinea will be hoping to exploit. Guinea is without their inspirational captain and midfielder Paschal Feindouno who earned himself a two match ban in a moment of madness in Guinea’s match against Morocco. With Feindouno Guinea would have an uphill task against the Ivorien elephants, without him the task appears Herculean.
Champ vs. Debutant: Egypt VERSUS Angola
Angola has never made it this far in the African Cup of Nations and they face a team in Egypt who not only has made it to the quarter-finals but all the way to the victory podium on five separate occasions. Off all the ties in the quarter-finals this pits the two teams with greatest difference in terms of experience.
Angola has shown though that they are not worried about stage fright as their début at the 2006 World Cup in Germany proved. They have key players in Manchester’s new signing Gonclaves Manucho and midfielder Ze Kalanga to threaten the Egyptian defence.
Egypt is a wily operator on the African continent with a finely tuned blend of precocious youthful experience in players like Amr Zaki and experienced campaigners like Mohammed Aboutreika. Their squad will be in buoyant mood after thrashing Cameroon 4-2, Sudan 3-0 before drawing the Zambia and are not ready to head back to Cairo just yet.
It will be a battle of two of the most seasoned African Managers as Egypt’s Hassan Shehata takes on Angola’s Luis de Oliveira Goncalves. The experience in Shetata’s squad will probably give him the edge and the defending champions are poised to be around for a while.
CAMEROON VERSUS TUNISIA
Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o has been regal this tournament shattering the all time scoring record and hauling Cameroon into the quarter-finals after they were gunned down 4-2 in their opening match by Egypt. Cameroon bounced back to dispatch Sudan 3-0 and Zambia 5-1 with Eto’o contributing three of those goals.
The Cameroon squad is not just about Eto’o, Arsenal’s Alex Song has been magnificent in midfield and his Uncle Riogobert Song veteran of seven finals provides his vast experience on the back line.
They face Tunisia winners of the trophy at home in 2004 and looking to prove that they can win it on the road. Boasting several of the squad that won the trophy in 2004 including Brazilian import Francileudo dos Santos, Radhi Jaïdi and Selim Ben Achour as well as French World Cup winning Manager Roger Lemerre the side has proved formidable.
It is bound to be a tightly fought contest but one thinks the lethalness of Eto’o and greater depth of the Cameroon squad will prevail.
