Egypt in a battle for honours against Cameroon

Kumasi, Jan. 27, GNA - Defending Champions, the Pharoahs of Egyppt will commence the defence of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) title they won in 2006 on a crucial note as they encounter the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Tuesday.
The match is expected to be cagey and uncompromising, judging from the rich experience and history behind the two teams at the CAN soccer fiesta.
The two countries have together won a total of nine titles, with Cameroon winning it in 1984, 1988, 2000 and 2002 whiles the Egyptians won it in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998 and 2006. Unlike their Egyptian counterparts, who performed creditably to enable them annex the trophy for the fifth time in 2006, the Cameroonians took an early exit from the tournament after they were eliminated via penalty shoot-out by Cote d'Ivoire at the quarter-final stage.
The Pharoahs, who are aware of the Herculean task that awaits them have so far refused to comment on the match but morale in the camp of the Indomitable Lions is very high as officials and players of the team are looking up to a good match. "We are ready for any opposition in this tournament as we believe we have what it takes to lift this year's MTN CAN tournament", Mr Linus Pascal Fouda, an official of the Cameroonian team told the GNA Sports in an interview.
The team, he said, had learnt many lessons since their exit from the last tournament in Egypt in 2006 and that the Indomitable Lions were determined to win this year's Cup in spite of the stiff opposition they might face from other teams. In a related development, the Ashanti regional branch of the Nationwide Supporters Union (NSU) together with their counterparts from Egypt, Cameroon, Sudan and Zambia on Monday staged a massive carnival through the principal streets of Kumasi to whip up the interest of the tournament among residents. Clad in their various national colours, the supporters sang and cheered their various teams amidst brass band music to the admiration of onlookers.
The three-hour carnival commenced from the Prempeh Assembly Hall and ended at the Centre for National Culture (CNC) where Mr Kwabena Senkyire, Regional Co-ordinator of NSU, called on the various supporters to work hard to promote unity amongst the various associations.