Cameroon are the champions of Africa after defeating Egypt 2-1 in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final at the Stade de l’Amitie in Libreville, Gabon, on Sunday night.
It was no more than what the West African nation deserved after a superb second-half comeback.
Down 1-0 at halftime, the team nicknamed the “Indomitable Lions” came storming back in an inspired second 45 minutes to snatch the winner two minutes from the end.
Egypt have won this event on seven occasions; Sunday’s win for Cameroon is their fifth success.
In keeping with the general trend of Afcon finals over the years, the 2017 version initially proved to be no different. The last six finals produced just six goals, with penalty shoot-outs usually the order of the day.
Cameroon co-captains Benjamin Moukandjo (left) and Nicolas Nkoulou, who scored the equaliser, lift the African Cup of Nations trophy. Photo: Mike Hutchings, Reuters
The opening 20 minutes was, as expected, a cagey, cautious affair. Neither team was prepared to risk, which led to a rather soporific start to the match.
It needed something special to spark the game to life, and it was Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny who lit up the match in the 22nd minute with a sparkling goal to give the Egyptians the lead.
Elneny had missed Egypt’s two previous fixtures with injury, but was drafted back into the team for the final.
It proved to be an inspired decision by Egypt coach Hector Cuper as the Gunners midfield maestro linked intelligently with Roma’s Mohamed Salah before steering a delightful shot, from an acute angle, into the top corner of the net.
Elneny’s delight proved to be a rather ironic contrast to his club side Arsenal’s troubles. In the Egyptian’s absence, Arsenal’s title aspirations have been dealt a severe blow with defeats to Watford and Chelsea in the last few days.
The goal resulted in Egypt tightening things even more. They’ve been fantastic in defence over the last three weeks, conceding just one goal from open play during the entire tournament.
Once the North Africans had taken the lead through Elneny, it was always going to be an uphill task for Cameroon. It’s difficult enough breaking the Egyptians down at the best of times, but try doing so in a prestigious final, and with the Pharoahs in the lead and playing with confidence…
Mohamed Elneny opened the scoring for Egypt in the first half in Libreville. Photo: Mike Hutchings, Reuters
But break them down Cameroon did – and in spectacular fashion.
Cameroon have not won the Afcon since 2002, and they were determined to regain their No 1 status on the continent.
So, desperate to get back on level terms, Cameroon’s Belgian coach Hugo Broos brought on striker Vincent Aboubakar in place of Robert Ndip Tambe at the start of the second half, hoping to add a bit more physical presence up front.
With Egypt content to sit back and soak up pressure, intent on catching the opposition on the break, Cameroon were able to surge forward with Christian Bassogog and Benjamin Moukandjo quite prominent.
The West Africans were persistent in their desire to press on, and they were rewarded in the 58th minute when Nicolas Nkoulou got on the end of a cross to head in a well-deserved equaliser.
The Cameroonians, throughout this tournament, have shown themselves to be a resilient side. They never know when they are beaten – and the tired-looking Egyptians played into their hands by sitting back in defence in the second half.
The equalising goal saw the momentum firmly swing to an inspired Cameroon. Confidence and self-belief seem to seep into the players as they strode forward in search of a goal.
And that’s how it turned out as the man of the moment, substitute Aboubakar, popped up with a sensational individual effort to score a stunning winner two minutes before fulltime.