Rivals Egypt, Morocco set for showdown

CAIRO – Hosts Egypt go up against bitter rivals Morocco today in what should be one of the highlights of the African Nations Cup.

The Group A clash will more than likely see Morocco exit the tournament should they lose and victory for Egypt would see the hosts through to the quarter-finals. The two countries have a passionate rivalry, though while Egypt are seeking a record fifth African title they need to overcome a dreadful record against their opponents with just two wins in 26 meetings.The rivalry between the two proud North African countries is intense and none more so than when they meet in the African Nations Cup finals.With both of them failing to get to the World Cup finals this year this is their chance to give the other a bloody nose.With Ivory Coast likely to make it two wins from two against Libya, who lost 3-0 to Egypt in the opening match, it makes it all the more vital that Morocco garner something from the match having lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast.Moroccan coach Mohammed Fakhir admitted that playing good and pretty football counts for little when one looks at the table.”You can come off the pitch and say wow we played well and dominated large parts of the match but then reality bites and you look at the table and you see the end result is zero points,” said Fakhir.Fakhir himself is pleasantly surprised by the speed with which the squad – albeit one of great experience as it lacks just two of the group that reached the 2004 final and lost 2-1 to hosts Tunisia – has reacted to his appointment just days before the finals.He was drafted in after fiery Frenchman Philippe Troussier was sacked at the end of December just two months into his tenure.”Just 10 days to get together and it didn’t look too bad,” said Fakhir, who also wisely brought back 35-year-old veteran Nouredine Naybet after he had been left out in the cold by Troussier’s predecessor Badou Zaki.For Morocco to keep themselves in the hunt they will need veterans like Youssef Hadji and Youssef Chippo to pull the strings and for striker Marouane Chamakh to convert the chances, with the added bonus for the 21-year-old Bordeaux marksman of increasing Spurs reported interest in him.One of Spurs’ current strikers, though, will be hoping to best his club mate Naybet and the latter’s fellow English Premiership central defender Talal El Karkouri of Charlton Athletic.Mido proved a handful for the Libyan defence, scoring one, but now as he accepts is the time to really prove himself against a genuine rival for the title.Mido is not a one-man team though, and in captain Ahmed Hasan and fellow midfielder Mohammed Barakat Egypt has two players capable of creating ample opportunities for their star turn.- Nampa-AFPThe two countries have a passionate rivalry, though while Egypt are seeking a record fifth African title they need to overcome a dreadful record against their opponents with just two wins in 26 meetings.The rivalry between the two proud North African countries is intense and none more so than when they meet in the African Nations Cup finals.With both of them failing to get to the World Cup finals this year this is their chance to give the other a bloody nose.With Ivory Coast likely to make it two wins from two against Libya, who lost 3-0 to Egypt in the opening match, it makes it all the more vital that Morocco garner something from the match having lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast.Moroccan coach Mohammed Fakhir admitted that playing good and pretty football counts for little when one looks at the table.”You can come off the pitch and say wow we played well and dominated large parts of the match but then reality bites and you look at the table and you see the end result is zero points,” said Fakhir.Fakhir himself is pleasantly surprised by the speed with which the squad – albeit one of great experience as it lacks just two of the group that reached the 2004 final and lost 2-1 to hosts Tunisia – has reacted to his appointment just days before the finals.He was drafted in after fiery Frenchman Philippe Troussier was sacked at the end of December just two months into his tenure.”Just 10 days to get together and it didn’t look too bad,” said Fakhir, who also wisely brought back 35-year-old veteran Nouredine Naybet after he had been left out in the cold by Troussier’s predecessor Badou Zaki.For Morocco to keep themselves in the hunt they will need veterans like Youssef Hadji and Youssef Chippo to pull the strings and for striker Marouane Chamakh to convert the chances, with the added bonus for the 21-year-old Bordeaux marksman of increasing Spurs reported interest in him.One of Spurs’ current strikers, though, will be hoping to best his club mate Naybet and the latter’s fellow English Premiership central defender Talal El Karkouri of Charlton Athletic.Mido proved a handful for the Libyan defence, scoring one, but now as he accepts is the time to really prove himself against a genuine rival for the title.Mido is not a one-man team though, and in captain Ahmed Hasan and fellow midfielder Mohammed Barakat Egypt has two players capable of creating ample opportunities for their star turn.- Nampa-AFP