Being underdogs against Egypt is good omen for Cameroon: Hugo Broos

Ahram Online , Friday 3 Feb 2017,
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Hugo Broos
Cameroon head coach Hugo Broos celebrates with his players victory in the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Cameroon and Ghana at the Stade de Renovation, in Franceville, Gabon, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017 (AP)

Cameroon coach Hugo Broos believes the underdogs tag will be useful to his side as they prepare for a crunch African Nations Cup final against seven-time winners Egypt on Sunday.

The Indomitable Lions will face Egypt in a third Nations Cup final involving the two African heavyweights after claiming an upset 2-0 victory over Ghana on Saturday.

Egypt reached their first final since 2010 after overcoming Burkina Faso 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in a hard-fought semi-final on Wednesday.

Cameroon and Egypt met twice in the biennial tournament's final, with the Pharaohs winning on both occasions.

"Yes, Egypt are favourites, but this might be a good omen for us," Broos said in an interview with Egyptian sports website FilGoal.com on Friday.

"I have to admit that Egypt are more experienced … but this was also the case against Senegal and Ghana. What matters is how would my side play; if we stick to our usual strategy we are going to win.

"Nine out of every 10 predicted that France will win the Euro 2016 final, and maybe no one predicted that Portugal would reach this stage. But at the end, Portugal were the European champions."

Egypt needed a shootout to defeat Cameroon on home soil following a 0-0 draw in 1986 and scored a late goal to earn a 1-0 win in 2008 in Ghana, thanks to iconic playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika.

"I know what happened in 2008 when Egypt won one nil. I was told that Egypt also won another final (at Cameroon's expense) but history is only in books and is not played on the pitch," Broos added.

"Egypt may be better, but we will fight to win."

Sunday's final will take place in Gabon's capital Libreville and will be officiated by Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)

 

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Group A W D L P
Cameroon
2 1 0 7
Burkina Faso
1 1 1 4
Cape Verde
1 1 1 4
Ethiopia
0 1 2 1
Group B W D L P
Senegal
1 2 0 5
Guinea
1 1 1 4
Malawi
1 1 1 4
Zimbabwe
1 0 2 3
Group C W D L P
Morocco
2 1 0 7
Gabon
1 2 0 5
Comoros
1 0 2 3
Ghana
0 1 2 1
Group D W D L P
Nigeria
3 0 0 9
Egypt
2 0 1 6
Sudan
0 1 2 1
Guinea Bissau
0 1 2 1
Group E W D L P
Cote d Ivoire
2 1 0 7
Equatorial Guinea
2 0 1 6
Sierra Leone
0 2 1 2
Algeria
0 1 2 1
Group F W D L P
Mali
2 1 0 7
Gambia
2 1 0 7
Tunisia
1 0 2 3
Mauritania
0 0 3 0