CBE, banks to launch card tokenization on Android mobile apps    CIB completes EGP 2.3bn securitization for GlobalCorp in seventh issuance    Mobile wallet transactions in Egypt surge 72% in Q2 2025 to EGP 943.4bn    Right-wing figures blame 'the Left' for Kirk killing, some urge ban on Democratic Party    Ex-IDF chief says Gaza war casualties exceed 200,000, legal advice 'never a constraint'    Egypt's Sisi ratifies €103.5m financial cooperation deal with Germany    Egypt's FM heads to Doha for talks on Israel escalation    Israeli strike in Doha escalates regional tensions, threatens Gaza ceasefire talks    Egypt strengthens inter-ministerial cooperation to upgrade healthcare sector    Egyptian government charts new policies to advance human development    Egypt, Spain discuss expanding health cooperation, support for Gaza    Egypt advances plans to upgrade historic Cairo with Azbakeya, Ataba projects    Egyptian pound ends week lower against US dollar – CBE    Egypt expresses condolences to Sudan after deadly Darfur landslides    Egypt hosts G20 meeting for 1st time outside member states    Lebanese Prime Minister visits Egypt's Grand Egyptian Museum    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Egypt seeks Indian expertise to boost pharmaceutical industry    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Nations Cup Godfather looking to play spoilers' role
Published in Ahram Online on 04 - 11 - 2017

Claude Le Roy's record breaking relationship with the African Nations Cup will continue next week when he leads Togo at the tournament in Gabon just months after taking over as their coach and securing them an unexpected spot at the finals.
Togo were a long shot for qualification midway through the campaign but after the 68-year-old arrived in April, they snatched one of the two berths reserved for the best runners-up on the last weekend of qualification.
"We initially had a one percent chance and it got better as the other results went our way. In the end it was almost unimaginable," he said.
The Frenchman is considered as the Godfather of the Nations Cup, having first guided Cameroon at the 1986 event before going on to coach in a further seven editions.
In a total of 35 matches, he has lifted the trophy only once -- when Cameroon won the 1988 edition -- but delivered a record of consistency that will strike fear into Togo's much-vaunted opponents.
Togo are the outsiders in Group C, given little chance by the pundits, after being paired with the holders Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Morocco in the town of Oyem. They start against the Ivorians on Monday.
In eight previous tournaments, Le Roy has guided his teams to at least the quarter-finals on seven occasions. The only failure was with DR Congo in 2013.
Le Roy has also coached Senegal and Ghana at the finals and two years ago took Congo-Brazzaville into the last eight, for the first time in 22 years, only to see his side squander a 2-0 lead and lose to neighbours DR Congo in their quarter-final tie.
A life long love affair with African football, and an itinerant lifestyle, began when he landed the job in Cameroon, recommended by Albert Batteux, one of France's most successful coaches.
"They announced me as coach and made me do a press conference before I ever signed a contract. It was all very surreal. But we didn't lose a match for three years and it was a real adventure. I was hooked to the continent after that and I owe it a lot," he said in a recent interview.
Le Roy's winning formula has always been to get as immersed in the country as much as possible.
He has called other European coaches who flit in for matches and then go home again "Club Med coaches".
With his toothy grin, round glasses, blond fringe that flops over his face and a penchant for black t-shirts, Le Roy often looks something of an oddity. But there are few who do not take the wily Frenchman seriously.
"There aren't many differences between coaching in Europe and Africa except that one day you might be having lunch with the head of state and then the next day you are standing alongside some dusty field looking at a prospective player," he added.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)


Clic here to read the story from its source.