LUANDA - Egypt's experience and all-conquering form at the African Cup of Nations make the holders overwhelming favourites against a youthful Ghana in Sunday's final in Luanda, according to Reuters. Egypt are chasing an unprecedented third successive title against a side given little chance at the start of the tournament, when a number of key players failed to make the trip to Angola. But Ghana's youngsters have already shown a footballing maturity well beyond their years and stout defensive performances in their past two matches have seen Ghana reach the final for the first time in 18 years. “It's unbelievable,” says Asamoah Gyan, a scorer of the winning goals in both the quarter-final triumph over hosts Angola and Thursday's semi-final victory over Nigeria. “We're a young team and not many people gave us a chance of making the final.” Like Egypt, they're playing tonight in a record eighth Nations Cup final. Egypt have only lost once in a deciding match and have marched through their matches in Angola with clinical efficiency, highlighted by a 4-0 triumph over bitter rivals Algeria Thursday night. Egypt have scored 14 goals in five successive wins, all in the coastal town of Benguela, as they first broke and then extended the record for unbeaten Nations Cup finals games to 18. They move to the capital to play at Luanda's November 11 Stadium, where Ghana have already had three matches, and where the pitch conditions have been much poorer than in Benguela. It is likely Egypt will do most of the attacking, although there is doubt over the fitness of striker Emad Met'eb. The Ahly star sustained an injury in the African champions' 4-0 demolition of Algeria. “He picked up a hamstring injury and he's likely to miss the final,” Egypt's assistant coach Hamada Sedqi said on Saturday. “There's not enough time between the semi-finals and the final, so his chances of being fit for the game are slim.” However, other officials told Reuters they expected he would be ready for the final, despite having to be replaced during the semi-final because of a hamstring injury. Ghana's coach Milovan Rajevac has sought to put out a team able to soak up pressure and looking to catch their opponents on the counter attack. “I told my players we were going to play to reach the final and not to produce beautiful football. Only the result matters, it's all about the result,” the Serbian-born coach said on Saturday. Ghana lost first-choice defenders John Paintsil and John Mensah to injury on the eve of the tournament, dropped key midfielder Sulley Muntari, because of indiscipline, and then saw captain Michael Essien have to limp out after just 45 minutes playing time in Angola after suffering a knee injury in training. Sunday's final could mark the end of the international career of several of Egypt's golden generation, including captain Ahmed Hassan, who could become the first player to win four Nations Cup finals. “We should return home with the trophy and of course we'll do our best do so,” Hassan said. Most Egyptians are optimistic about Sunday's game, saying that the only real obstacle was to overcome their arch-rivals Algeria. “I think Egypt would add the seventh title on Sunday [tonight's game],” Monna Salem, 24, a housewife, told The Egyptian Gazette over the telephone. “Egypt were in great shape during their game against Algeria.” Abou Zeid Abdel-Fattah, an Egyptian worker in Saudi Arabia, agrees with Mona, but he warns the team that they must concentrate and play collectively. “All the Egyptians in Saudi Arabia are praying for Egypt to win,” Abdel-Fattah told this newspaper in a telephone interview from Saudi Arabia. “Ghana aren't as strong as Egypt, who have won all their matches.” Other Egyptians, meanwhile, warn of overconfidence. The Pharaohs are very good, but this doesn't guarantee that they can do it, they say. “Every match is different,” said Ahmed Moussa, 28, a translator. “If the players are overconfident, they might stop concentrating and that would be disastrous. Egypt are the best, but they mustn't underestimate their opponents.” Hatem Khedr contributed reporting from Cairo.
