Egypt coach Hassan Shehata does not mind being branded a 'lucky man' if that means he will continue leading the Pharaohs to glory after proving doubters wrong in Ghana. Shehata led Egypt to a record sixth Nations Cup title after his side produced splendid displays to overcome some of Africa's giants like Ivory Coast and Cameroon. Since the 2006 Nations Cup triumph on home soil, there were bizarre views describing his continuous success as a matter of luck. "Luck isn't something to be ashamed of. If luck brings success, then I'm happy to be branded a lucky man," Shehata told Dream TV. However, the 58-year-old boss demonstrated that the 2006 triumph was no fluke after guiding the national team to glory in Ghana. Crucial Start Shehata underlined the importance of the tournament's kick-off, which he believes can determine any team's fate during the competition. "The beginning is always important. It is a double-edged weapon. A win might pave the way for success whereas a defeat could prove costly." Egypt didn't hope for a better start. The defending champions opened their campaign against The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Egyptian fans feared the worst. But they were delighted to see their team overwhelm Cameroon, making it a night to remember in Kumasi. Egypt went to the lockers room 3-0 up, before eventually emerging 4-2 winners after outplaying the four-time winners Cameroon. "Our attacking approach surprised Cameroon. We started with three men upfront and our strategy proved fruitful," the ecstatic Shehata said. Egypt went on to crush Sudan 3-0 and move closer to booking a place in the quarter-finals. They achieved their target by finishing on top of Group C, but only after settling for an unconvincing 1-1 draw with Zambia. "We had to be cautious against Zambia because we feared a loss may force us to progress as the group runners-up or even throw us out of the competition."
Shehata lifts CAN 2008 cup "We wanted to qualify as the group winners in order to play the quarter-finals in Kumasi. It was very important to prevent any exhausting trips to other cities," Shehata added. Tough Opposition Egypt edged past Angola in the quarter-finals to set up a dream meeting with Ivory Coast, in a repeat of the 2006 final in Cairo. "Without doubt, Ivory Coast were the best team in the tournament. They are a powerful team," Shehata said. "My target before the tournament was to lead Egypt to the semi-final and by that time, the mission was accomplished. But I and my players were greedy. "I told them we have to fight to reach the final. All of us wanted to retain the title we won at home." Egypt beat the odds to thrash Ivory Coast 4-1 and reach the final after producing a scintillating display. "I think some of Ivory Coast players looked arrogant after defeating Guinea 5-0 in the quarter-finals. Maybe that's why our humble players outplayed them," he added. Shehata next faces a tough challenge to fulfill fans' aim of seeing their nation appear in the World Cup for the first time since 1990. Contract Extension Shehata is likely to pen a contract extension soon, but his requirements must be met before he agrees on the new deal. "I have some demands before I pen the new deal. I will sit down with the Egyptian FA officials to discuss the terms of a new contract." "I don't want any interruption in my work by the competitions' committee, who sometimes make sudden changes in the domestic league fixtures. "I want a stable league without many postponements. It is the most important way to help the national team," he added. Shehata also insisted that he has a 10-day preparation prior to any official match for Egypt. Although long preparation camps have been persistently criti
