KUMASI, Ghana, 7 February 2008 — Ivory Coast can avenge its defeat in the 2006 final when the tournament favorites play Egypt in the semifinals of the African Nations Cup yesterday.
Egypt coach Hassan Shehata led his team to the title two years ago on home soil by beating Ivory Coast on penalty kicks. The five-time African Cup champions have won eight of the nine matches the two teams have played in the tournament since 1968, with Ivory Coast’s last victory back in 1990.
However, Ivory Coast routed Guinea 5-0 in the quarterfinals to add to convincing victories against Nigeria, Mali and Benin. The Elephants have scored 13 goals and conceded just one. But only one victory was achieved against a former winner: Nigeria, the 1980 and 1994 champion.
Egypt look a more credible opponent and Shehata isn’t intimidated by Ivory Coast’s big-name team. “We all know that Ivory Coast is the best team out of the four team — but we are not worried,” he said.
Cameroon and Ghana are the other two semifinalists.
Third-choice goalkeeper Tiasse Kone is the only Ivory Coast-based player in the 23-man squad, which includes the Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou and FC Barcelona’s Yaya Toure. Shehata needs a plan to contain Drogba and Kalou, who have scored six of Ivory Coast’s goals.
Hoping to secure a Dutch passport to represent the Netherlands, Kalou missed the 2006 African Cup. After his request for accelerated naturalization was rejected, he made his debut for Ivory Coast in the 1-0 win over Guinea in February 2007. The former Feyenoord forward has played a key role in the Ivorian attack since. He thinks his side shouldn’t be looking for revenge when the two teams meet at the Baba Yara stadium.
“I don’t like to talk about revenge,” said Kalou. “This team is here to win the cup against any opponent.”
Ivory Coast, unlike the North Africans, has recent World Cup experience. In 2006, the Ivorians lost to Argentina and the Netherlands but beat Serbia. Egypt made its last World Cup appearance in 1990.
The Egyptians beat four-time winner Cameroon and 1970 champion Sudan before holding Zambia to a draw to finish top of Group C. Egypt then downed Angola to advance.
Inspiration and experience could come from captain Ahmed Hassan, making his seventh Africa Cup appearance for Egypt. While Hosni Abd Rabou has scored three of his four goals from the penalty spot.
