Cameroon Indomitable Lions beat Egypt Pharaohs to become AFCON 2017 Champions

CAMEROON AFCON 2017 CHAMPIONS! Click here to see how it all happened

Final: Egypt 1-2 Cameroon

Cameroon is now officially two titles short of record African champions, Egypt.

This followed the Indomitable Lions’ 2-1 victory against the Pharaohs during the final of the 31^st edition of the AFCON championship played at Stade De L’Amitie on Sunday night in Gabon.

After Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Naser Elsayed El-neny had given Hector Cuper’s charges the lead on 21 minutes, the Indomitable Lions returned completely a different entity.

Cameroon’s second half performance was a combination of energy, pace, precision and determination

The improved second half performance witnessed two substitutes Nicolas Julio Nkoulou and Aboubakar Vincent Aboubakar score in great fashion to be crowned as champions for the 5^th time.

Earlier, El-neny, on his return from injury struck a sublime finish from an acute angle came in the 21^st minute of the half that the 7-time AFCON winners dominated.

Before that, the young Seville goalie Joseph Fabrice Ondoa was called to foil an Egyptian attack inside the first minute of the game.

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Cameroon tried to claw back through a Clovis Siani’s 6^th minute  weak shot, that was easily pocketed by goalie El-hadary. Seven minutes later, Christian Bassogog had a left footed attempt flying over the bar.

There was no teasing action until Elneny’s goal after he was released by Mohammed Salah.

Cameroon suffered a set back when central defender Adolphe Teiku pulled a ham-string in the 27^th minute and was forced out two minutes later. His place was taken by out Nicolas Julio Nkoulou after 30 minutes.

As the second half started, Hugo Broos pulled out Robert Tambe and introduced Vicent Aboubakar. The change worked magic for team Cameroon.

They won 6 corners in a space of 15 minutes and were often dangerous off the break.

Nkoulou headed home skipper Benjamin Nkoulou’s perfectly delivered ball from the left for the equalizer.

The game seemed destined for a extra time but Aboubakar had other ideas altogether. He beat Al Gaber with a looped ball, before firing past the aging El-hadary to spark wild celebrations from the confirmed 38,216 spectators who included the FIFA President Giovanni Infantino, federation presidents, CAF President Issa Hayatou and the Gabon head of state, Ali Bongo Ondimba.

Moukandjo was voted man of the match moments after Janny Sikazwe’s final whistle.

A couple of excited fans who beat security to join their heroes on the field of play were blocked and forced out.

The team players of the victorious side changed to green jersey shirts written on ‘Cameroon Forever’  on the front and all had number 17 at the back in memory of the legendary midfielder and former captain, Marc Viven Foe who died on the field of play when playing for the national team.

Cameroon returns to the winning podium after 2002. They have now the AFCON title 5 times in 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002 and 2017.

Come 2019 when they host, they will strive to defend the crown on home turf.

Christian Bassogog was named the best player of the tournament as Egypt took home the fair play award.

Team Line ups:

Egypt XI: Essam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary (G.K), Aly Gabr Gabr Mosaad, Ahmed El Mohamady Abdelfattah Al, Ahmed Elsayed Ali Elsayed Hegazy, Ahmed Fathi Ahmed Abdelmoneimm, Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous, Mohamed Naser Elsayed Elneny, Abdallah Mahmoud Said Mohamed B, Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim Hassan, Amr Medhat Mohsen Warda

Changes:

66’ Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim Hassan OFF, Ramadan Ahmed ON

Subs Not Used:

Omar Gaber, Ibrahim Gad, Ahmed Mahgoub, Mahmoud  Soliman, Ahmed Nouh, Mohamed Abouzeid, Karim Seifeldin, Sherif Ahmed, Marwan Fahmy, Saadelin Ali, Ahmed Elshenawi

Head coach: Raul Hector Cuper (Argentina)

Cameroon XI:  Fabrice Joseph Ondoa Ebogo (G.K), Adolphe Teikeu Kamgang, Michael Ngadeu Ngadjui, Ambrose Bitolo Oyongo, Benjamin Moukandjo (Captain), Clovis Sebastien Siani, Gilles Arnaud Djoum Sutchuin, Robert Ndip Tambe,  Collins Ngoran Suiru Fai, Christian Mougang Bassogog, Zoua Daogari Jacques

Change:

30’ Adolphe Teikeu Kamgang OUT, Nicolas Julio Nkoulou ON

46’ Robert Ndip Tambe OUT, Aboubakar Vincent Aboubakar ON

93′ Zoua Daogari Jacques OUT, Mandjeck Georges Constant Mandjeck

Subs Not Used:

Ernest Olivier Mabouka Massoussi,, Clinton Njie, Edgar Nicaise Salli, Frank Thierry Boya, Goda Jules, Karl Toko Ekambi, Mohamed Djetei, Joseph Ngwem II, George Bokwe

Head Coach: Henri Hugo Broos (Belgium)

Match Officials:

Center Referee: Janny Sikazwe (Zambia)

1^st Assistant Referee: Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos (Angola)

2^nd Assistant Referee: Marwa Range (Kenya)

4^th Official: Daniel Frazer Bennett (South Africa)

Commissioner: Pierre Alain Mounguengui (Gambia)

General Coordinator: Anthony Baffoe (Ghana)