2010 African Cup of Nations: Three and easy for Egypt

EGY 1-0 GHA

Egypt have won their third consecutive African Cup of Nations after a late goal in Luanda saw them past a gritty Ghanaian side that were missing several key players. The goal was scored by the striker Geddo (85′), who can rightly lay claim to a tag of ‘supersub’ after finishing top scorer of the competition in Angola, despite starting every single game on the bench.

Egypt had been the only consistent team in the competition, winning all of their games, including a fierce Semi-Final thumping of rivals Algeria. The young squad of Ghana (8 of their players came from the World Champion Under-20 side), meanwhile, did well to reach the final with the injuries they suffered (captain Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah, amongst others), and will feel that their time will come soon.

In the 3rd-Place Play-Off the day before in Benguela, Nigeria claimed the bronze, defeating Algeria 1-0 thanks to a goal from Victor Obinna (56′).

In other news, Togo, quite disgracefully, have been punished over their withdrawal from the tournament (CAF claim that it was due to Togo government interference) by way of a $50,000 fine and disqualification from the next two Cup of Nations events (Gabon/Equatorial Guinea 2012 and Libya 2014).

Below is a full summary of Angola 2010:

 

2010 African Cup of Nations – full results:

Group Stage:
Group A
1) ANG
2) ALG
3) MLI
4) MWI

Group B
1) CIV
2) GHA
3) BFA

Group C
1) EGY
2) NGA
3) BEN
4) MOZ

Group D
1) ZAM
2) CMR
3) GAB
4) TUN

Quarter-Finals:
ANG 0-1 GHA
CIV 2-3 ALG
EGY 3-1 CMR
ZAM 0-0(p) NGA

Semi-Finals:
NGA 0-1 GHA
EGY 4-0 ALG

3rd-Place Play-Off:
NGA 1-0 ALG

Final:
EGY 1-0 GHA

 

Final Standings:
1) EGY
2) GHA
3) NGA
4) ALG

 

CAF Awards
Golden Boot: Geddo (EGY) (5 goals)

Player of the Tournament: Ahmed Hassan (EGY)

Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Essam El-Hadary (EGY)

Team of the Tournament:
Starting XI (3-4-3): El-Hadary (EGY); Bougherra (ALG), Gomaa (EGY), Mabina (ANG); Song (CMR), Hassan (EGY), Fathy (EGY), Odemwingie (NGA); Gyan (GHA), Zidan (EGY), Flavio (ANG)
Substitutes: Kingston (GHA), Geddo (EGY), Mbola (ZAM), Ziani (ALG), Emana (CMR), Asamoah (GHA), Keita (MLI), Ayew (GHA), Mouloungui (GAB), Obasi (NGA), Kalou (CIV), Mulenga (ZAM)