2023 Africa Cup of Nations: 5 things we learned on Day 26 - twins and a déjà vu
And finally Cote d'Ivoire won a game without imploding while Nigeria's Super Eagles were far from soaring. Over in Cairo, the Egyptians are banking on some brotherly love.
Issued on:
Hurrah for the Hassans
Kudos to the Hassan twins for their ascent to the top jobs with the Egypt national team. Hossam - who is Egypt's record marksman with 68 goals - has taken over as head coach from Rui Vitoria who was consciously uncoupled from the post after the poor showing of the Pharoahs at the tournament. Ibrahim will be the team director. And their identical goal will be to lead Egypt to a record-extending eighth trophy. The last triumph was in 2010.
Rui's rue
What might have been, Rui Vitoria must be wondering as he surveys new prospects. The Portuguese former Egypt head coach lost star striker Mohamed Salah to a hamstring injury in the second group stage game against Ghana on Day 6 and first choice goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy dislocated a shoulder in the subsequent game against Cape Verde. Still, the back-up keeper Gabaski wasn't exactly a slouch. He played brilliantly in the Cameroon tournament in 2022 on the way to the runners-up spot. But that was then and in the here and now of the 2023 extravaganza, his penalty struck the crossbar in the shoot-out in the last-16 against Democratic Republic of Congo. Vitoria must have known the reign would be over as DRC goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi stylishly converted his penalty to take his team into the quarter-finals.
Holler Haller
Ooh, what really might have been. In all the glee over Cote d'Ivoire's ascent to the final of the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, spare a thought for Jean-Louis Gasset - the coach who got them into the last-16 but nevertheless left because - as we were told by the Ivorian football federation - he didn't take them there in the way that had been contractually agreed. Red tape, eh? In the run-up to the 34th Cup of Nations, Gasset insisted that it was correct to allow Sebastien Haller and Simon Adringra time to recover from injuries as they were key players who were worth that risk. "Haller is a leader," said the 70-year-old Frenchman in the days when he was Haller's boss. "He is Cote d'Ivoire's main striker and I'm willing to do my utmost for a man like him." Hooray for Gasset. His derring-do and subsequent loss of employment due to Haller's unavailability has helped the new man Emerse Faé look good with a fit Haller back in the fold and scoring the winner which took Cote d'Ivoire into the final against Nigeria - a repeat of the second game in Group A which is where it all started to go wrong for Gasset. An Ivorian victory would be such succulent symmetry.
Broos bruised but not bowed
South Africa coach Hugo Broos oozed contentment despite his side's penalty shoot-out defeat to Nigeria. "What they did today ... you have to be proud as a coach." The review wholeheartedly agrees. The South Africans led the Nigerians a merry dance in the first-half and should have scored a couple. South Africa had opportunities to clinch a place in a Cup of Nations final for the first time since 1998 in second-half stoppage time but missed three good chances. Penalties, admitted Broos, are a lottery. "The way we play we don't need to have fear," insisted the 71-year-old Belgian. "The players are good and they have to believe that. It is something that I have said to them." South Africa play Democratic Republic of Congo on Day 29 for the third place medal. We shall see if they are heeding the boss.
Favourite hair shirt
It's been rather endearing the way no one wants to be considered 'the favourite'. It's like passing a ticking time bomb with the wonky piano music about to stop. Nigeria coach José Peseiro went out of his way to repudiate the very concept of favourite before the semi-final against South Africa. With good reason. His lads looked like chumps at the start of the game in Bouaké and at the end of normal time rode their luck. "Compliments to South Africa players and coach, they did a fantastic job," said a still queasy Peseiro less than 30 minutes after the final whistle. "Nigeria deserved the win and so did South Africa. Our team was stronger in the penalties." Says it all really.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning
Subscribe