Cameroon began this campaign slow but steady,thwarting every obstacle and had eventually proven critics wrong. They improved in leaps and bounds as each game went-by under the tutelage of 64 year old Belgian boss,Hugo Broos.
Resilience,Tenacity,Hard Work,Indomitable,Determination were some of the characteristics accentuated by the Lions.
The competition commenced 14th January with host nation,Gabon,playing against Guinea-Bissau in a one-all stalemate at Stade de'Almitie,Libreville.
The penultimate game of the event was an encounter between the Black Stars of Ghana and the Stallions of Burkina Faso which ended in favor of the Stallions by a solitary strike from Alain Traore in the 89th minute thereby galvanizing them to return home with bronze from the Stade de Port-Gentil.
It was a very colorful event across all the venues;Stade d'Angodje(Libreville), Stade de Franceville(Franceville), Stade d'Oyem(Oyem), Stade de Port-Gentil(Port-Gentil).
"The tournament's oldest and most experienced player - El Hadary."
- The official mascot of the tournament was "Samba", a black panther.
- 66 goals were scored and the top scorer,Junior Kabananga who scored three is from Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Christian Bassogog from Cameroon is the best player.
- Essam El-Hadry is the oldest player of the tournament and captain of the Egyptian side.
- Gabon
- Morocco
- Algeria
- Cameroon
- Senegal
- Egypt
- Ghana
- Guinea-Bissau
- Zimbabwe
- Mali
- Ivory Coast
- Uganda
- Burkina Faso
- Tunisia
- DR Congo
- Togo
Prior to the kick-off of the competition,Cameroon were tipped as underdogs by many pundits citing their recent form and struggles especially the absence of Joel Matip, Allan Nyom, Eric Chuopo-Moting and five other players who refused call-ups.
It was indeed a clash of the titans. The duel was interesting,entertaining and pulsating. The match ended in favor of the West Africans who deservedly won the 31st edition of the prestigious and most revered competition on African soil.
The indomitable lions of Cameroon lived up to their name.They put up a fight, daring the meticulous Pharaoh's of Egypt. They ran out of stem in the second half and,for the first time since 2004,we've had an AFCON final where both teams have scored. They failed in their attempt to clinch another African Cup of Nations title having won it a record seven times.
The game is the epitome of a real final.
Egypt were very domineering in the first half rewarded with a clinical finish from Mohammed Elneny in the 22nd minute.
Cameroon came from behind to beat Egypt 2-1 in a breath taking second half when Nicolas Nkoulou equalized with a header in the 59th minute. All hell broke loose when substitute Vincent Aboubakar swept in the winner two minutes from time,flicking the ball in an epic manner over defender Ali Gabr and thumping it home off his right foot for a fitting winner.
"Of a truth,Aboubakar is a classy striker."Cameroon are African champions for the Fifth time after victories in 1984,1988,2000,2002 respectively.
Belgian coach Hugo Broos reflected the unity in his squad's ranks, as he celebrated the first Nations Cup title of his career."Cameroon raised the AFCON trophy for the fifth time."
It was a case of villain and victor since Hector Cupper and Hugo Broos were involved in the technical department.
Hector Cuper suffered another debilitating night after another defeat in a major final,having lost two European Champions League finals with Spanish club Valencia. Cupper couldn't salvage the Pharaoh's from the herculean task of lifting the AFCON for the eight time.
The North Africans more than had a fair share in an electrifying final,but it was Cameroon's energy and focus that lit up the occasion and provide a thrilling end to a thoroughly entertaining tournament for the near-capacity crowd of more than 38,000 in the Gabonese capital.
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