Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    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    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    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 warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    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.



Cousin gives Gabon shock triumph over Cameroon
Published in Daily News Egypt on 14 - 01 - 2010

LUBANGO: Hull City striker Daniel Cousin scored the only goal as Gabon caused the biggest upset so far in a shock-filled Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Cameroon 1-0 on Wednesday.
Cousin scored early in the first half of the Group D clash and the Gabonese survived numerous goalmouth scares to record only their second victory during four appearances at the biennial continental football showcase.
Cameroon, four-time champions and twice runners-up, entered the game as hot favorites to secure maximum points having comfortably beaten Gabon twice in qualifiers for the Angola tournament.
"We are very pleased we got a win in the first game. Our system worked well and technically we were very good, said Gabon coach and former France star Alain Giresse.
"Even if we finish second in this group we will be happy. What we want is to qualify for the quarter-finals, he said of a mini-league completed by Tunisia and Zambia.
Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o displayed no signs of panic as the jinx affecting World Cup qualifiers at the Nations Cup continued with Algeria and Nigeria also losing their opening game and Ivory Coast drawing.
"Losing today is not a big problem but we have to win our next game against Zambia on Sunday. We controlled the match but could not find the net, lamented the three-time African Footballer of the Year.
Veteran Cameroon central defender Rigobert Song created history by becoming the first man to play in eight Nations Cup tournaments.
The 33-year-old from Turkish club Trabzonspor overtook current Egypt captain Ahmed Hassan and two retired stars, Hossam Hassan of Egypt and Ivorian Alain Gouamene.
Cameroon started by taking the game to Gabon and Achille Emana was unlucky after eight minutes when his shot was pushed on to the post and away for a corner by goalkeeper Didier Ovono.
But the game took a dramatic twist on 17 minutes when the Indomitable Lions failed to clear a cross and Cousin darted through to push the ball wide of goalkeeper Iddriss Kameni and give Gabon a shock lead.
Going in front boosted the confidence of the outsiders and they retained the advantage until half-time with reasonable comfort as Eto'o failed to make his anticipated impact.
Geremi Njitap did worry Ovono with a free kick and Eto'o finally came to life just before the break with a dribble past several defenders, but the ball was eventually booted away.
Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen made a change in central midfield for the second half, introducing Tchoyi Somen for Landry Nguemo and the new face was soon making his presence felt.
Ovono, who once battled to make a living playing in El Salvador, was an inspirational figure and did well to parry a close-range header off a corner and foiled Eto'o when the Inter Milan striker seemed poised to equalise.
Frustration crept into the game as Cameroon continued to dominate possession only to be thwarted by Ovono, who used his feet to block a close-range Emana drive at the expense of a corner.
Gabon time wasting cost midfielder Stephane Nguema and striker Roguy Meye yellow cards with the latter booked for taking too long to leave the field when substituted by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Ovono came to the rescue again as time ticked away, touching a dipping free kick from Njitap over the crossbar, and a long-range Aubameyang drive rebounded off the crossbar in stoppage time.


Clic here to read the story from its source.