AFCON: Cameroon are crowned 2017 champions
Feb 05, 2017
Relive how Cameroon beat Egypt 2-1 to be crowned 2017 Africa Cup of Nations champions.
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS: FINAL
- FULL-TIME: Egypt 1-2 Cameroon
- Cameroon win fifth Nations Cup title
- Egypt denied eighth title
- Burkina Faso won third place
Live reporting by Joseph Kizza (Twitter: @joekizza)
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12.30am: CAMEROON ARE 2017 CHAMPIONS
Well, well, well. That brings us to the end of an eventful tournament. Like in all games, there are winners and losers.
So, that's all from me here, thank you for keeping me company.
Good night/morning!
12.25am: CAMEROON ARE 2017 CHAMPIONS
Now that the good-old roar is back for the Indomitable Lions, they are set to host the 2019 tournament as the defending champions.
Congratulations Cameroon and hard luck Egypt.
Hugo Broos has become the first Belgian coach to win the Africa Cup of Nations.
12.16am: CAMEROON ARE 2017 CHAMPIONS
It has taken The Indomitable Lions 15 years to get back to winning ways, and so the players' and staff's celebration at the end of the final whistle understandably told it all.
12.10am: CAMEROON ARE 2017 CHAMPIONS
This would have been Egypt's eighth title, but it was never to be.
Hector Cuper's men have come up short after taking the lead in the first half, only to see that lead snuffed out by two second-half goals.
You will not blame them for the tears and long faces as they walk through a guard of honour mounted by victors Cameroon to collect their silver medals.
11.58pm: CAMEROON ARE 2017 CHAMPIONS
It's an atmosphere of mixed reactions upon the final whistle. Celebrations in the Cameroon camp while quite the opposite mood in the Egyptian camp.
FULL-TIME: CAMEROON ARE KINGS!
Egypt 1 Cameroon 2
GOAL! Cameroon (Aboubakar)
And there goes what could possibly be the winner in these closing stages of this thriller!
A brilliant goal by Vincent Aboubakar, who chests a dropped in cross, taps the ball over the head of Ali Gabr before hitting home past a motionless Essam El Hadary who is looking for a fifth Nations Cup title.
80min: Egypt 1 Cameroon 1
We are into the last ten minutes of this game. On Saturday, we saw a dramatic conclusion to the third-place game, with The Stallions of Burkina Faso finishing it off late against The Black Stars of Ghana.
Similar script here?
78min: Egypt 1 Cameroon 1
Cameroon twice wasteful there. First, Jacques Zoua Daogari does well to carry the ball all the way from the midfield, leaving Egytian opponents in his wake, but as he draws closer to the area, he lets rip while off-balance under pressure. He had options on his right but decided to go for glory.
Then, Benjamin Moukandjo, who has impressed for much of the game, goes wasteful when he blasts into the night skies near the egde of the box.
70min: Egypt 1 Cameroon 1
Mohamed Salah is becoming a menace for Cameroon's back with his speed. Once, inside the penalty area, he elects to beat defender Ambroise Oyongo Bitolo with some skill and trickery but he overcooks it and loses the ball.
Again, he beats his minder for pace but keeper Fabrice Ondoa is quick to come out and relieve his defender of the danger.
The crowd is surely alive.
65min: Egypt 1 Cameroon 1
The Indomitable Lions have rediscovered their mighty roar and are pushing for another goal.
They will host the next edition of the tournament and I bet they will fancy hosting Africa's biggest football tournament as the defending champions.
Moukandjo has been a force to reckon with for Hugo Broos' side.
GOAL - Cameroon (N'Koulou)
Egypt 1 Cameroon 1
Now we've got a game on our hands!
Nicolas N'Koulou, who came off the bench in the first half in place of injured Adolphe Teikeu, levels matters in this final.
After sustained pressure towards the Egyptians, Benjamin Moukandjo, playing on the left flank, drops in a ball into a crowded Egyptian box.
N'Koulou then rises highest to nod past keeper Essam El Hadary. The crowd, which has more Cameroon supporters than Egyptian ones, goes wild. Game on!
57min: Egypt 1 Cameroon 0
Someone threw some flint into proceedings as the game sparks into life.
52min: Egypt 1 Cameroon 0
Just like we saw in the opening half, The Indomitable Lions are already bossing ball possession. Their more illustrious opponents are happy to let them have the ball but are keen to capitalise on the counter-attacks.
The Pharaohs always loook dangerous when they dash through on the counter-attack.
49min: Egypt 1 Cameroon 0
We are back for the second-half and action looks to have picked up from where we left off.
Both sides are involved in early exhanges off the energy of those half-time oranges back in the dressing rooms. But Cameroon's Collins Fai is wasteful when he should have had a better delivery with that cross on the right.
Christian Bassogog is an ubiquitous presence in the attack.
HALF-TIME: Egypt 1 Cameroon 0
Egypt take the lead into the break.
Cameroon bossed much of the ball (63% ball possession) but Egypt have the better and all-important statistic: the goal. A fourth goal for his nation for this fine young man Mohamed Elneny, who plays his club football with English side Arsenal FC.
43min: Egypt 1 Cameroon 0
Mohamed Salah nearly gets to the end of a counter-attack through-pass but Fabrice Ondoa won't take any chances. He runs out quickly to collect.
40min: FIVE MINUTES LEFT
Egypt 1 Cameroon 0
The Cameroonians are looking for that equalizer but Egypt are solid at the back.
38min: Egypt 1 Cameroon 0
The last time Egypt were beaten in a Nations Cup final was in 2004 by Algeria.
They have since been a force to reckon with. Can The Indomitable Lions break them? Hugo Broos' men will have to first crawl out of the pit they are in at the moment.
35min: Egypt 1 Cameroon 0
Again, Christian Bassogog gets a chance but he blasts wide. He needs to get his bearings right if he is to get that ball behind the net.
30 min: Egypt 1 Cameroon 0
Can Cameroon claw back into this game? Yes, they can because they have an hour more to do so.
But one development they won't like is the fact that they've had to make an early substitution.
It's game over for Adolphe Teikeu who is in tears on the bench after coming off with an injury. On comes Nicolas N'Koulou.
GOAL - Egypt (Elneny)
Egypt 1 Cameroon 0
Mohamed Elneny scores on his return to the team after injury.
He was involved in the buildup, sliding a pass to Amr Warda who cuts back in to Mohamed Salah. And similar to the role he played in the goal against Uganda in the group stage, Salah feeds in Elneny who squeezes his shot past Cameroon keeper Fabrice Ondoa.
What a goal!
14 min: Egypt 0 Cameroon 0
Cameroon forward Christian Bassogog, who sealed victory for the Indomitable Lions in their semi-final against Ghana with a great run, tries his luck from outside the area. But his shot is misplaced. It should be for a rugby conversion.
07 min: Egypt 0 Cameroon 0
Tonight's winner will represent Africa at the FIFA Confederation Cup in Russia in June.
The Cameroonians have settled into this game after a wobbly start. In fact, they have Sebastien Siani let rip outside the penalty area but that won't trouble veteran goalkeeper Essam El Hadary.
03 min: Egypt 0 Cameroon 0
Early warning sign for the Indomitable Lions as the Egyptians knock on their door.
Abdalla El Said tests keeper Fabrice Ondoa with a shot inside the penalty area but the Cameroonian goalstopper collects comfortably.
KICK-OFF!
Egypt 0 Cameroon 0
The Pharaohs of Egypt have the first taste of the ball by setting the sphere in motion.
This is the 32nd and last game of this tournament.
9.55pm: National anthems
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
We are five minutes away from kickoff.
The Egyptian anthem is sang. Next, that of Cameroon.
The two sets of players exchange handshakes and take team photos before the matter at hand can begin.
9.53pm: Gabon president gets medal
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
After the two sets of teams line up on the Stade de l'Amitie stadium, on come top dignitaries including FIFA president Gianni Infantino, CAF president Issa Hayatou and Gabonese president Ali Bongo Ondimba.
But before they walk onto the pitch, there is a brief presentation. President Bongo is awarded a Platinum medal for his services to the game of football on the African continent.
There after, they walk onto the turf for the formalities including national anthems.
9.48pm: Walking out
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
The two teams are walking out of the dugout onto the pitch amid defeaning cheers from the filled stadium.
9.40pm: Did you miss?
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
Did you miss out on the wonderful performances of the closing ceremony earlier on? Here are some of the African musicians who graced the stage:
Ivorian singer Josey . . .
Cameroonian singer Charlotte Dipanda . . .
Malian singer Rokia Traore . . .
And Senegalese singer Coumba Gawlo . . .
9.30pm: Cameroon starting XI unchanged
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
The starting line-ups show that Hugo Broos has left his starting line-up unchanged while his opposite Hector Cuper has made two changes.
EGYPT: Essam El Hadary, Ali Gabr, Ahmed El Mohamady, Ahmed Hegazy, Ahmed Fathi, Tarek Hamed, Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Elneny, Abdalla El Said, Trezeguet, Amr Warda
CAMEROON: Fabrice Ondoa, Adolphe Teikeu, Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui, Ambroise Oyongo Bitolo, Benjamin Moukandjo, Jacques Zoua Daogari, Christian Bassogog, Sebastien Siani, Arnaud Sutchuin Djoum, Ndip Tambe, Collins Fai
9.10pm: Some more El Hadary magic?
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
To get to the final, Egypt conceded only goal, and that was in the semi-final against Burkina Faso.
After drawing that match 1-1, they went through on penalties, 44-year-old goalkeeper Essam El Hadary saving two spot-kicks to take the Pharaohs through.
The veteran keeper has won the title four times before? Can he win it for the fifth time in an illustrious career?
8.55pm: 'A real shame for them'
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
"Of course when you get to this stage you want to win but I think looking at the run we have had we have already done well," Cameroon captain Benjamin Moukandjo told reporters on the eve of the final.
"I don't think anyone here would have bet a cent on us beforehand and that's a real shame for them."
8.45pm: A genuine reason to smile
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
A number of leading players refused to accept call-ups from Belgian coach Hugo Broos in the buildup to the tournament. But they will perhaps be hitting themselves on the head for that decision as the handicapped Cameroon team short of stars has dumped hosts Gabon out of the tournament.
They have also made their way past pre-tournament favorites Senegal as well as Ghana.
Only a few believed in their progress but one man who will be having the last laugh will be none other than Hugo Broos.
8.30pm: Rediscovering the good-old roar
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
The Indomitable Lions are looking to cap a remarkable revival tonight.
Alongside Ghana, Cameroon are the second most successful nation in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations with four victories. Their last was in 2002.
It's 15 years since. Can they awaken that past glory tonight?
8.20pm: Closing ceremony under way
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
It's 6.20pm in Libreville and 8.20pm in Kampala. The closing ceremony is already under way and we have had a taste of some on-stage performances from the likes of Rokia Traore of Mali. It's a jolly mood inside the stadium.
8.10pm: Cameroon bus stuck in jam
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
Look away now if you are a Cameroon fan.
The team's bus is reported to be stranded in jam en route to the stadium where the closing ceremony is due to begin. It will be the same venue where the final will be played.
The Egyptian camp will have been delighted by that news, knowing that they are already at the stadium.
7.53pm: ‘Two years pass very quickly'
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
El Amrani added to AFP that lessons had been learned ahead of the next Cup of Nations, which will be held in Cameroon in 2019.
"We are working for the future to provide entertainment around the matches, as well as the fan zones we want to put in place in Cameroon.
"We need to look after the pitches better ahead of the tournament.
"We are already in contact with the local organising committee in Cameroon. Two years pass very quickly."
7.50pm: ‘No little teams anymore'
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
"But even if the pitch at Port-Gentil was not fitting for this tournament, it will be in future. It is an excellent legacy for Gabon to have such stadiums," he declared.
"We are also satisfied with the level of football. There are really no little teams anymore.
"Guinea-Bissau were participating for the first time and performed quite remarkably. And then there will be an historic final between Egypt and Cameroon."
He added: "In terms of the economic benefits, they are better than the last tournament according to estimations."
In reference to attendances, El Amrani refused to credit suggestions that crowds were hit by boycott calls from elements of the opposition to President Ali Bongo.
"We would have liked to see bigger crowds at certain matches," he said.
"The presence of supporters is not linked to the price of tickets or as I have heard to the (political) opposition, because we don't interfere in the internal affairs of Gabon.
"It is however linked to transport problems. Certain stadiums like in Oyem and Franceville are difficult to access and when there is no public transport for 15-20,000 spectators, it is not easy."
7.45pm: ‘No bumps in 2017 AFCON legacy'
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
Meanwhile, CAF general secretary Hicham El Amrani has told AFP that stadiums built in Gabon are an "excellent legacy" for the country.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's final in Libreville between Egypt and Cameroon, El Amrani insisted the Cup of Nations had been a success despite poor attendances and bumpy pitches having a negative impact on the quality of football.
"It has been positive. Obviously there are some negatives that we regret, in particular the quality of one of the pitches," El Amrani said in reference to the surface in the port city of Port-Gentil, where a new stadium was opened for the tournament.
Before Saturday's third-place play-off between Ghana and Burkina Faso there, seven games there had yielded just nine goals and caused several injuries.
7.35pm: Closing ceremony
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
Ahead of tonight's final, there will be a closing ceremony from Stade de l'Amitie in Libreville.
7.30pm: Not a bad way to sign out
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
It was the second highest finish in the biennial African football showcase for the Burkinabe Stallions, who finished runners-up four years ago.
On the other hand, The Black Stars of Ghana have played in five third-place play-offs, losing four.
7.27pm: Traore snatches third place for Stallions
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
On Saturday, there was the third place to play for. And it was there for keeps for either Burkina Faso or Ghana. Eventually, it was The Stallions that secured it, thanks to Alain Traore's 89th minute goal as they beat The Black Stars 1-0 in Port-Gentil.
7.20pm: The football kings of Africa
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
Egypt are the most successful team in the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite a recent brief absence from the tournament, the Pharaohs remain the record champions with seven titles to their name.
It's seven years since they last had a taste of glory. Are their backroom staff dusting up that magnificent cabinet for trophy number eight?
7.10pm: And then there were two
Egypt v Cameroon (10pm EAT)
Tonight, we will be rounding off an action-packed tournament with what promises to be a mouth-watering final showdown in the largest city of Gabon, Libreville.
Good evening!
Welcome to yet another live text commentary of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final between Egypt and Cameroon that will kick off at 10pm Ugandan time.
Since we have plenty of daylight between now and then, how about some build-up to that game?
I bet you agree.
