Egypt beat Cameroon on penalties

Egypt are through to the final of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations after beating hosts Cameroon 3-1 on penalties at the end of a goalless 120 minutes in Yaounde on Thursday.

Goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal was the hero for the Egyptians, saving from both Harold Moukoudi and James Lea-Siliki in the shoot-out at the Olembe Stadium before Clinton Njie blazed wide with Cameroon’s last chance to keep their dream alive.

Salah, usually the fifth penalty-taker for his country, was not needed as Egypt advance to a final showdown against Senegal at the Olembe Stadium on Sunday.

That will see Salah come up against his Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane, with the Pharaohs chasing a record-extending eighth African crown while Senegal continue their search for their first title.

Cameroon, meanwhile, see their hopes of AFCON glory on home soil ended in cruel fashion, and they must still get through a third-place play-off against Burkina Faso this weekend.

Cameroon captain Vincent Abubakar pass up a glorious chance to open the scoring early in the second half when a dreadfully short back-pass by Martin Hongla sent him clear.

After trying to knock the ball round Andre Onana, the Cameroon goalkeeper successfully stopped him just outside the box.

Cameroon during the penalty shoot out during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Afcon Finals Semifinal match between Cameroon and Egypt held at Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon on 03 February 2022
Aboubakar also struggled to make an impact, although the hosts had dominated the first half and almost went ahead in the 18th minute when Michael Ngadeu rose to head a corner off the woodwork.

Samuel Oum Gouet also saw a long-range piledriver clip the left upright in the second half.

Meanwhile the Egyptians went down at every opportunity, regularly looking to eat up time and frustrate their opponents.

Usually they eventually stood up again unscathed, although centre-back Mahmoud Hamdy El Wensh needed a bandage on a first-half head wound.

At least they ended the game with 11 players, but coach Carlos Queiroz — whose assistant was serving a ban here — was shown a red card as the end of normal time loomed after losing his temper on the touchline.

This was Egypt’s third extra time in as many knockout ties, after they needed penalties to beat the Ivory Coast in the last 16 and an extra half-hour to get the better of Morocco in the quarter-finals.

Extra time passed with penalties always seeming inevitable, and Aboubakar was the only successful taker for Cameroon as they go out.

Man of the Match Mohamed Abdelmonem of Egypt during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Afcon Finals Semifinal match between Cameroon and Egypt held at Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon on 03 February 2022
What they said

Watch Cameroon vs Egypt Highlights

“It was a good match for us. A difficult match against a good Cameroonian team but our team knew how to make the difference with a Mohamed Salah who supported us throughout the match like a great leader. Thank God, we succeeded in our penalty shootout to secure a place in the final”.

“Each time, the Egyptian team are favorites to win the tournament. Tonight we played the usual game and we managed to reach the final. I would like to thank our coach Carlos Queiroz who was expelled during the game as well as all the players who made the difference with their ardor and grinta throughout the tournament. We are happy, it’s true, but we have not yet reached the final objective: the coronation. I can also add that our background is also due to the presence of one of the great players in our training, namely Mohamed Salah. A very essential player in our team and who remains the centerpiece for us”.

“The team played well during the 90′ ​​trying to score goals but we didn’t succeed. We are as sad as the 27 million Cameroonians, but I think the Egyptian team knew how to counter us. We We’re sad but it’s the reality. The players felt some signs of fatigue at the end of the match, especially after a very physical and intense first half. We had tried to save our energy to counter the opponent but in vain.”

Credit: cafonline

Senegal vs Burkina Faso 3-1

The Teranga Lions of Senegal produced a brilliant second half performance to beat Burkina Faso 3-1 to qualify into Sunday’s TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 final.

Defender Abdou Diallo started the party for the 2019 losing finalists when he calmly slotted in from close range on 71 minutes.

The PSG defender kept his cool inside the Burkinabe box after Koulibaly’s volley fell on his path before guiding his shot past substitute keeper Soufiane Ouedraogo.
Saliou Ciss of Senegal challenged by Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Afcon Finals Semifinal match between Burkina Faso and Senegal

The West African derby lived up to it’s billing at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé with Senegal having two penalty claims turned down following VAR reviews.

With an eventful first half which saw the two teams cancelled each other in the middle of the park. Saliou Ciss came close for the Lions of Teranga with low fierce drive past Koffi’s far post on 14 minutes.

Edouard Mendy pulled a smart low save on towards his right to deny Burkinabe forward Hassane Bande seven minutes before the break.

The Stallions were forced to change their goalkeeper Kouakou Koffi following a collision with Senegal’s Cheikhou Kouyate.
Sadio Mane of Senegal challenged by Adama Guira of Burkina Faso during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Afcon Finals Semifinal match between Burkina Faso and Senegal

The second half saw both sides going for the breakthrough and it was the Teranga Lions who scored first through Abdou Diallo.

The young defender found the back of the net from close range before Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba Dieng doubled their lead from Sadio Mané’s clever cut back.

With time running out the Stallions pulled a goal back eight minutes from time when midfielder Ibrahim Blati Toure latched on to Issa Kabore’s cross.
Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba Dieng of Senegal celebrates goal with teammates during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Afcon Finals Semifinal match between Burkina Faso and Senegal

Kabore was picked out by captain and talisman Bertrand Traore on the right and the forward placed an inviting delivery towards advancing Toure to slot past Mendy.

The two-time losing finalists completed their task on 83 minutes through star man Sadio Mané. The Liverpool forward showcased his class with he stylishly dinked his effort past Soufiane Ouedraogo to send Senegal to their third TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations final.

Senegal will face the winner in the second semi-final between Egypt and hosts Cameroon in Sunday’s final at the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé.

Credit: cafonline

Rev Eastwood Anaba to Pastors

Rev Eastwood Anaba, the President of the Eastwood Anaba Ministries (EAM) says Pastors must live lifestyles that reflect the gospel of Jesus Christ which they preach to their congregations.

He said if the lifestyles of Pastors contradicted the messages they preached, they had no business with the holy pulpit and altar of God, saying “In the beginning was the word, the word was with God and that word was God.”

Likewise, he said Pastors must be the messages they preach, “So your message must be you, and you must be your message. Christianity is in crisis because many Pastors are preaching what they are not.”

Reverend Anaba, who is also the Founder of Fountain Gate Chapel (FGC), said this in a sermon at the Church’s 31 days programme, which began on January 1, on the theme; “Reposition”, held at Desert Pastures, a branch of FGC in Bolgatanga, capital of the Upper East Region.

The programme, which is the maiden event of the Church in 2022, brought together members of FGC for “repentance, revival, and restoration to reposition” them for a “new experience” in 2022.

Reverend Anaba told his congregation including Pastors of the Church that “Preparing a sermon does not give you the opportunity to preach, being a sermon is what allows you to preach.

“When you prepare the sermon and what you say is who you are, that is the time you qualify to preach,” noting that Pastors who indulged in fornication and adultery had no right to talk about holiness.

The Cleric emphasized that some Pastors were “Preaching messages that they not. Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure. The Lord knows them that are His, and let every man who mentions the name of Christ, depart from iniquity.”

He prayed that God would touch the lives of Pastors to preach His true gospel, live their lifestyles according to their sermons, and be role models to their congregation and members of the public.

“I pray in the name of Jesus; may God touch your life as a man and a woman of God. I see you take responsibility and say God can trust me,” the EAM President said.

Credit: GNA