It’s a duel of fireworks on the lawn of the Olembé stadium, in Yaoundé, Thursday February 3 (8 p.m.) for the second semi-final of CAN 2022. On the one hand, on the front of the attack Cameroonian, Karl Toko-Ekambi and Vincent Aboubakar, two lions as roaring as they are indomitable, already authors of eleven goals between them (six for Aboubakar, five for Toko-Ekambi). Opposite, a whole team is organized around an exceptional player, capable of changing a match on his own: Mohamed Salah.
62% – Mohamed Salah has been involved in 62% of Egypt’s goals in the Africa Cup of Nations since his debut in 2017 (8/13), the highest ratio for a player from a nation to have scored in the minus 5 goals in the tournament over this period. Guide. #CAN2021 #EGYMAR pic.twitter.com/UYTBCskrSk
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) January 30, 2022
The dependence of the two semi-finalist selections on their stars is great. Aboubakar and Toko Ekambi scored all of the goals for Toni Conceiçao’s side. The Indomitable Lions duo could also make history by equaling or even surpassing the record of Mulamba Ndaye and Mayanga Maku, the most prolific pair at an African Cup with twelve goals scored for Zaire in 1974. Mohamed Salah is involved in three of the four Egyptian goals during the competition with two goals and a masterful assist which allowed the Pharaohs to eliminate Morocco in the quarter-finals.
“Aboubakar is really the goal hunter, the typical center forward who is always in the box with the ability to always find the gestures needed to score. He has a huge sense of goal”, comments Alain Giresse, who participated in four CAN as a coach. Indeed, the former Lorient player scored his six goals (including two penalties) with one touch of the ball, in the opposing penalty area. A real surface fox.
His partner in attack completes this duo with a different style of play. “Toko Ekambi uses space, gives balls, and can conclude, he has more mobility that’s why he plays more on one side. Each in their positions allows to complement each other”, adds the 1982 European champion. A pair that feeds a lot on the crosses of his teammates. Four of the eight Cameroonian goals scored in the game were from this type of action, like the Lyon striker’s double against Gambia in the quarter-finals.
“Salah is the player who is given a lot more freedom.”
Alain Giresse, former coach of several African teamsat franceinfo: sport
At the Pharaohs, coach Carlos Queiroz leaves complete freedom to his master to play who moves across the entire front of the attack. His match against Morocco in the quarter-finals perfectly illustrates his complete attacking game. It is he who comes to equalize full axis after a mess on a corner, like a striker on the lookout for the slightest ball that trails. We find him during extra time on his right side, where he grabs the ball more than thirty meters from goal, will provoke his defender to eliminate him and center perfectly for Trezeguet who will offer qualification to Egypt. “Salah is the player to whom we give a lot more freedom, we cannot confine him to a specific role. We ask him to make the difference”analyzes Alain Giresse.
With eleven goals scored since the start against only four for their opponents, the Indomitable Lions start as favorites. The atmosphere of a competition at home and the two extensions played by Egypt also weigh in the balance. “I want to say that it leans for Cameroon”gets wet Philippe Troussier, former coach of five nations on the African continent. “Egypt will have a say in playing low block with the importance of Salah on transitions” he adds.
“It is difficult to score goals in Egypt”, warns Alain Giresse. The Pharaohs have only conceded two goals since the start of the competition, including one from a penalty. “If there are defensive gaps, the attackers will be useless, it’s a whole package. You can only win with an attacking strong point”recalls the semi-finalist technician of the competition with Tunisia in 2019.