Cameroon, Egypt in revenge clash

CAMEROON will begin their quest for a record-equalling fifth African Nations Cup title here today with a Group C clash against defending champions Egypt, the tournament’s most successful team who denied them a place at the 2006 World Cup.

In October 2005, Cameroon needed to win their final qualifier for a place in the World Cup but could only force Egypt to a 1-1 draw, a result which paved the way for Ivory Coast to feature at their first-ever finals. Cameroon then put that failure behind them as they won their first five matches in a 2008 Nations Cup qualifying group that included Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea and Liberia to book a place at these finals.Cameroon and Egypt have clashed a total of 21 times with the Pharaohs coming out on top on the head-to-head table, winning on nine occasions while seven have been drawn.The 2000 Olympic champions have often been derided for parading a team of ageing stars but a younger generation of players like the nephew of skipper Rigobert Song, Alexandre, Reading defender Andre Bikey and Olympic team star Landry Nguemo is slowing making its way into the main team.Nampa-AFPCameroon then put that failure behind them as they won their first five matches in a 2008 Nations Cup qualifying group that included Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea and Liberia to book a place at these finals.Cameroon and Egypt have clashed a total of 21 times with the Pharaohs coming out on top on the head-to-head table, winning on nine occasions while seven have been drawn.The 2000 Olympic champions have often been derided for parading a team of ageing stars but a younger generation of players like the nephew of skipper Rigobert Song, Alexandre, Reading defender Andre Bikey and Olympic team star Landry Nguemo is slowing making its way into the main team.Nampa-AFP