AFCON 2017: Ghana to lock horns with Cameroon

By El-Amisty Nobo

The Black Stars of Ghana and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will come at each other’s throat on Thursday, February 2, at the Stade de Franceville in Gabon as both side’s eyes the final spot to playing Egypt in the finals of the 2017 African Cup of Nations [AFCON].

The last time these two sides crossed swords was 9yrs ago at the same stage [semifinals] where Alain Mosely Nkong’s second half goal was enough to break many a Ghanaian football fans.

But enough has passed under the bridge since then. For instance, the phase of both teams has changed tremendously, except that Ghana still have four of the players [Andre Ayew, Fatau Dauda, Harrison Afful, and Asamoah Gyan] who participated in the CAN 2008 where Ghana lost a painful 0-1 to Cameroon.

Andre Ayew was handed a starting role in Coach Claud Le Roy’s team that suffocated at Otto Phishers’ [Cameroon] tactical paralysis at the Accra Sports Stadium [Ghana] on that Black Thursday.

Starting line-ups, Ghana vs. Cameroon [CAN 2008]

Ghana: Richard Kingston, John Paintsil, Hans Adu Sarpei, Michael Essien [Capt.], Eric Addo, Anthony Annan, Haminu Dramani, Sulley Ali Muntari, Junior Manuel Agogo, Quincey Owusu Abayie, Andre Dede Ayew.

Cameroon: Carlos Kameni, Geremi Ngitap, Timothee Atouba, Alexandre Song, Rigoberth Song [Capt.], Stephane M’bia, Achille Emana, Mohamadou Idrissou, Joseph Desire-Job, Samuel Eto’o, Andre Bikey.

Flash Back

Nkong’s 71st minute goal came like the thunder lightening that comes whilst the sun is still shinning in the afternoon. Goalkeeper Carlos Kameni’s long clearance found Samuel Eto’o, who formed a triangular move with two substitutes; Epalle and N’kong. Two quick passes between Eto’o and Epalle unleashed N’kong who broke the deadlock.

Fast Forward, AFCON 2017

Whereas Ghana did not have the best of preparations on the road to the AFCON, - playing only one training match against FC Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan, Cameroon on the other hand paraded the weakest Indomitable Lions team ever in the last decade as eight first team players decided to exempt themselves from the competition.

A situation which nearly hampered Liverpool’s Joel Matip’s career as the FECAFOOT reported him to FIFA but in the end, the football world governing body [FIFA] freed the Liverpool defender who had retired from international football prematurely.

That notwithstanding, both the Black Stars and the Indomitable Lions have warmed themselves into the tournament really well and would love to cusp it with the ultimate – winning the trophy.

Ghana’s Road to the Semi-finals

The Black Stars qualified from Group D [Ghana, Uganda, Mali, and Egypt] where they came second to Egypt, picking 6 points on the road. Ghana secured two wins against Uganda and Mali before losing their last match against eventual group winners, Egypt.

The quarter finals saw the Black Stars coming up against a strength filled Democratic Republic of Congo but the Ghanaians triumphed 2-1 over their Congolese counterpart.

Cameroon’s Road to the Semi-finals

The Indomitable Lions finished as first runners up in Group A which had the likes of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, and eventual group winners Burkina Faso.

Let me suffix to reiterate here that Cameroon did not lose any match in the group stage of the competition, having won one match and drew the other two.

Past AFCON Results Between Ghana and Cameroon

Tuesday, March 09, 1982: Cameroon 0-0 Ghana

Saturday, January 22, 2000: Cameroon 1-1 Ghana

Thursday, February 07, 2008: Cameroon 1-0 Ghana

Verdict

The Black Stars are yet to reach their full best, but coach Avram Grant’s side have managed to display plenty of guile and inspiration going forward, especially from their two attacking wingers; Jordan Ayew who is a trequartista and the sharply cultured left footed Christian Atsu.

Apart from the creative instinct of Andre Ayew in the middle, the combination of the Black Stars midfield triumvirate; Afriyie Acquah, Thomas Partey, and Mubarak Wakaso enabled Ghana to stay strong in the engine room in their match against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

For Ghana to break the defensive code [Fai, Teiku, Oyongo, and Nkoulu] of Coach Hugo Broos’ side who combines physical play with fierce body check, Jordan Ayew and Christian Atsu will have to put the ball on the turf. By doing so, Ghana will be able to pierce through the defensive wall of the Cameroonians.

Again, the Indomitable Lions have in their post a very reliable goalkeeper in Fabrice Ondoa who stood between Cameroon and goal in their epic quarter final clash against Senegal where the four time champions [Cameroon] won 5-4 on penalties. To beat Ondoa, you need lots of runs in front of the post to unsettle him.

On the other hand, Coach Hugo Broos’ side have mastered in winning ugly throughout the competition and will not alter their style going into their game against the Black Stars.

Captain of the side, Benjamin Moukandjo Bile has enjoyed a great tournament so far and may need to carry his colleagues along his line in other to steal a win from Ghana.

Hugo Broos can also decide to tactically throw into the starting line-up, Vincent Aboubakar whose physical presence in attack can thwart the cohesion between John Boye and Daniel Amartey.

For Cameroon to beat Ghana, Hugo Broos may need to put one man on Mubarak Wakaso to stop him from stringing his long defence splitting passes to Jordan Ayew and Christian Atsu whilst stroking lots of the balls through the Black Stars lateral defence.

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Email: elamistynobo1@yahoo.com