It’s quarter final time at the Nations Cup – win or go home. Who’s got what it takes to make it to the last four? Here’s my take.
Hosts Angola open the round with an intriguing clash in Luanda against a Ghana team that will give them their best chance of reaching the semi finals for the first time. With all their big names missing, the young Black Stars were well beaten by Ivory Coast in the group stage and Angolas Palancas Negras will be favourites in front of a partisan crowd. Flavio and Manucho have combined for 5 goals so far and with Gilberto and the returning Dede prompting from midfield they’ll have their chances against a far-from-solid Black Stars defence. Ghana are without their powerful midfield trio of Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah and Sully Muntari, and have lacked both power and invention. They will be counting on the industry of Dede Ayew, experienced striker Asamoah Gyan, and winger Haminu Draman, in the hope of pulling an unlikely upset.
It would be the biggest shock of the finals if Ivory Coast fail to overcome Algeria in Sunday’s other match up in Cabinda. Everyone knows about the Elephants’ big name players – Drogba, the Toures et al. – and despite their opening goalless draw against Burkina Faso they remain favourites to win the competition, and in midfield ace Gervinho they boast one of the stars of the finals so far. Algeria have hardly impressed, losing 3-0 to Malawi and scoring just once in three games. Yet, if the Desert Warriors – who also boast the likes of Karim Ziani and Mourad Meghni - show the kind of commitment that put them into the World Cup finals ahead of Egypt, they might yet make a game of it. But it’s hard to see them getting past the skilful, determined Ivoriens.
The match of the quarter finals must be the clash between defending champions Egypt and Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions in Benguela on Monday. Egypt have the only 100% record of the first round and with the brilliant Ahmed Hassan still going strong in midfield, this settled, experienced side will be favourites to reach the last four. Yet, Cameroon – led by the prolific Samuel Eto’o - cannot be under-rated, even if they did struggle to get out Group D. Coach Paul Le Guen rang the changes after the narrow 3-2 win over Zambia, finally dispensing with veterans Rigobert Song and Geremi Njitap, and the new faces rose to the occasion in a bruising 2-2 draw with Tunisia last Thursday, and will fancy their chances of ending Egypt’s four-year stranglehold on the Cup. It’s a must-see match that could go either way, but I think Egypt’s superior team ethic will trump the Lions physicality and work-rate.
Zambia did well to finish top of Group D, ahead of Cameroon and Tunisia, and they’ll fancy their chances against the enigmatic Super Eagles in Monday’s second game in Lubango. Yet, it’s the Nigerians who will start as favourites, both on the basis of reputation and personnel. Shaibu Amodu’s team has been heavily criticised after an opening loss to Egypt and an unconvincing win against Benin, but they showed glimpses of improvement in despatching Mozambique 3-0 on Wednesday. With the emergence of Sani Kaita as midfield anchor and Osaze Odemwingie and Chinedu Obasi running the flanks, Nigeria should prove too strong for a Zambia side for whom Jacob Mulenga and Chris Katongo have been influential, but who will be without suspended midfielder Rainford Kalaba and centre-back Kampanba Chintu. French coach Herve Renaud insists the pressure will be on Nigeria, but that’s always the case for the Eagles, and I think they will continue to improve and book a place in the last four.
So my last four pick is: Egypt v Ivory Coast, Angola v Nigeria.
Let’s see yours.
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