It’s a classic. A poster that comes back like a pretty chorus that would be hard to forget. Côte d’Ivoire-Egypt is one of the duels that has been the most proposed in the history of the African Cup of Nations (CAN), with ten confrontations on the clock. The advantage is significant for the Pharaohs, with seven wins, two draws and only one defeat. Wednesday, January 26, at 5 p.m., during this last day of the round of 16, the Ivorians nevertheless hoped to achieve a second victory over their pet peeve from the banks of the Nile, on this lawn of the Japoma stadium, in Douala.
The Elephants were on the rise in this tournament, galvanized following their triumph, in the previous round, once morest Algeria (3-1), holding the title. The selection was finally starting to feel better, as if released from a pressure that had eventually suffocated her. “I’ve already told you, this team has a soul, enormous potential”, underlined Patrice Beaumelle, the coach. For “go as far as possible” in this CAN, the French relied on a workforce scattered in the most prestigious European clubs. Only one international plays in the Ivorian championship (Abdoul Karim Cissé at ASEC Mimosas).
The Elephants were able to count on their captain, Serge Aurier (Villarreal), an uninhibited defender, naturally pushed towards attack; their twirling striker Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal), who had turned the defense of the Algerian Fennecs like a dervish; and their scorers Sébastien Haller (Ajax Amsterdam), Franck Kessié (AC Milan) or Max-Alain Gradel (Sivasspor), who have all scored since the start of the tournament.
A committed, tight, but unattractive round of 16
Among the Egyptians, it is the opposite. Of the 28 players lined up on the match sheet, the vast majority of them play in their country, mainly in Zamalek and Al Ahly, two clubs in Cairo. Five players are exceptions, including Mohamed Salah. At the stadium, the Liverpool striker was acclaimed by his fellow citizens in the stands and by the Cameroonians. The latter readily lean towards Egypt: they did not like their “Ivorian brothers”, as they say, mock them on social networks, following the narrow victory of the Indomitable Lions, Monday, January 24, over the Comorians who played their eighth to ten and without a goalkeeper.
Since the start of the CAN, the Egyptians have been unattractive and not formidable: a defeat once morest Nigeria (0-1) and two narrow victories once morest Guinea-Bissau (0-1) and Sudan (1-0) , two nations not really scary. Salah, the star striker of Liverpool, Egyptian football icon, is, like his club partner, Sadio Mané (Senegal), lacking in rhythm, efficiency, dazzling. Only one goal in three games.
This round of 16 was finally committed, tight, but not very exciting, and disappointing on this lawn of the Japoma stadium with 50 shades of green. We expected a technical battle, speed, elegance and madness. After being dominated during the first twenty minutes of the match, the Egyptians gradually imposed their tempo. They are more incisive (shots on target, transverse) during the first half. The Elephants are in place. Orange wall erected facing the Pharaohs, nothing happens. Both teams remain cautious: we don’t expose ourselves too much to avoid a counterattack; we build so as not to rush – not to say waste – and return the ball to the adversary.
However, what is at stake – a qualification for the quarter-finals – pushes the teams to attack, and strike, once more and once more: 21 shots for Egypt (5 on target), 13 for Côte d’Ivoire (8 on target). As is often the case at the Japoma stadium, the players felt exhausted throughout the match in the moist heat of Douala (around 30 degrees and 78% humidity).
A good run in the competition
As soon as Mohamed Salah touches the leather, the audience shudders to the sound of vuvuzelas and darboukas. But the captain, sometimes selfish, and not very generous with his teammates, might not do anything once morest Badra Sangaré, the Ivorian goalkeeper, once once more decisive. The Egyptian goalkeeper, too, was illustrated.
The match is struggling to get carried away, each of the selections tries to push without succeeding in avoiding extra time. Shortly before the regulation end, Mohamed El-Shenawy, who had just completed a two-stroke save in front of Wilfried Zaha, went out through injury.
In a final thrill, shortly before the 120e minute, Egypt has a golden opportunity to fold the meeting; but Sangaré, once more him, stops the strike. At the whistle, the 14,046 spectators (out of the 50,000 seats available) gave voice, excited to attend the penalty shootout, the second session of these round of 16.
The atmosphere is electric. Côte d’Ivoire is definitely playing on hostile ground. Finally the match has an interest. When the Ivorian Nicolas Pépé approaches the penalty spot, he is booed as if he were an enemy of the Cameroonian fatherland. He scores with a counter-foot. Index on the mouth, he asks the public to be quiet. Then it was the turn of the third Ivorian shooter, Eric Bailly. His strike – incomprehensible – is deflected by the substitute goalkeeper. The Egyptians, they will not miss the frame. It was, of course, Mohamed Salah, the last shooter, who beat Sangaré and sent the Pharaohs to the quarter-finals (0-0, 5-4 on penalties). They will face Morocco on January 30. At this time, the cries of the public are so intense that they almost make the stands tremble.
The Elephants, not very flamboyant this evening, are eliminated by nothing, they who had such a good run in this competition. Also eliminated from qualifying for the next World Cup in Qatar, they will have time to refine their game for the next CAN which will take place next year in… Côte d’Ivoire. It will be their 25e participation in the African Cup. If Egypt goes there, the country will play its 26e tournament. Always ahead.