Hosts Cameroon and record champions Egypt face each other in Yaoundé on Thursday for a place in the Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021 final.

●      This will be the 11th Africa Cup of Nations encounter between Egypt and Cameroon, no two teams have met on more occasions in the competition’s history.

●      Egypt have won three of their last four Africa Cup of Nations games against Cameroon (L1), scoring nine goals, this after netting just twice across their previous six encounters against the Indomitable Lions in the competition (W1 D2 L3).

●      Cameroon have progressed from seven of their nine semi-final matches at the Africa Cup of Nations, only opponents Egypt (8) have made it through this round more often in AFCON history.

●      The Africa Cup of Nations hosts have been eliminated in three of their last five semi-final matches in the competition, with Egypt the last such team to progress from this round (2-1 against Senegal in 2006).

●      Since the beginning of 2017, no player has been directly involved in more goals (9) at the Africa Cup of Nations than Egypt’s Mohamed Salah (six goals, three assists) or Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar (seven goals, two assists).

Apart from the 1976 edition which was played throughout on league basis, there have been 55 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals from 1957 to 2019.

Here are some points of interests in the previous 55 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final matches.

• It was in Nigeria that a semi-final match was first decided on penalties. On 19 March 1980 at the Liberty Stadium, now renamed Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, Egypt and Algeria played a 2-2 draw and the match was decided by penalty shoot-out which Algeria won 3-2.

• Nigeria’s speedy right winger who operated from the left wing in the encounter with South Africa scored the fastest goal in an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in a 2-0 victory for the Super Eagles. Under a minute from kick-off, he rounded up South African defender, Mark Fish to open scoring. Minutes later, he scored the second goal.
• The most delayed goal of the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals was scored by South Africa’s Benni McCarthy in 1998 in an encounter with DR Congo in Ouagadougou, Mali. The goal came in the 112^th minute of a match that stretched into extra time.
• There have been only one hat-trick in an Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals. It was scored by Zambia’s Bernard Chanda in a 4-2 defeat of Congo in 1974.

The West Yorkshire outfit was interested in one of Nigeria’s finest wingers but could not close the deal before the winter transfer window slammed shut moments before February 1

Nigerian international Moses Simon has confirmed that Leeds United contacted his agent and French employees Nantes intending to sign him permanently during the January transfer window.

Simon was a subject of interest from the Whites, with the Marcelo Bielsa-led club keen on adding an attacking talent on the left-wing.

Exciting wingers do not come better than Simon, who has been one of the most productive attackers in France, contributing two goals and six assists in the first half of the season.

Simon spent the better part of January in Cameroon, where Nigeria ended a promising Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a disappointing second-round defeat to Tunisia.

Despite Nigeria’s premature elimination, Simon was arguably the Super Eagles’ best player, raking up impressive numbers of dribbles, key passes, and overall ratings, aside from his goal and assist.

The 26-year-old’s abilities and exploits appear to have convinced Leeds United that the winger can excel in the Premier League, with the Peacocks firming up their interest with an offer.

“Yes, it is true, my agent told me about some offers among all is Leeds United who came calling with a strong offer and well intention of sealing the deal immediately,” Simon said

But the deal could not be concluded as Nantes made it clear that their prized asset was not for sale.

Former Levante man Simon also believes it is not yet the right time to leave Nantes, as the Canaries can still make a positive impression in the French Cup and Ligue 1, with a Europa League ticket still within reach.

The Super Eagles ace added: “My club wants me to finish the season with FC Nantes and I really want to contribute my own quota to ensure we secure Europa league ticket at the end of the season; we are pushing hard for that.

“Already we are in the quarter-finals of the French cup and presently we are among the top ten teams on the league table. Hopefully, Europa league will not be a bad achievement.”

Simon joined Nantes permanently in 2019 for €5 million from Spanish La Liga side Levante following an impressive year on loan.

The former KAA Gent star is currently valued at €9 million

The three-time continental champions had the quality to go all the way to the final but bowed out meekly at the first knockout stage

Super Eagles winger Chidera Ejuke has provided reasons why Nigeria failed to go beyond the second round of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 2013 Afcon kings arrived in Cameroon under a cloud of uncertainty after the sacking of long-serving head coach Gernot Rohr and the withdrawal of several key players, including leading striker Victor Osimhen.

But under the tutelage of interim coach Augustine Eguavoen, the Super Eagles fuelled their title hopes by winning their three group games against Egypt, Sudan, and Guinea-Bissau.

Known for his silky dribbles, CSKA Moscow ace Ejuke featured in each of those matches, making the starting eleven in the 2-0 defeat of Guinea-Bissau.

But the Eagles stumbled at their next hurdle, suffering a 1-0 loss to Tunisia to get dumped out of the biennial competition.

Ejuke did not make it off the bench for that encounter. But on his return to the Russian capital, his club teammates still wanted to know how the Eagles failed to soar past the Carthage Eagles.

“Everyone was interested in how we played there, how we lost to Tunisia in the 1/8 finals,” Ejuke told CSKA official website.

“Of course, it was very disappointing, because we have good players, we did the group stage perfectly. We hoped for more, but our time will come.”

The former Heerenveen star continued: “I did not play myself — you can, of course, judge from the outside, but those who were on the field have a weightier opinion.

“The Tunisians did a little more to win than we did. The team continued to create chances after the red card but did not use them. The tide turned against us.”

Ejuke has eight caps for the Super Eagles, and Cameroon 2021 is the first time the 24-year-old will represent Nigeria at a major tournament.

The Eagles have not won a major title since lifting the Nations Cup in South Africa in 2013.

Onuachu has attracted interest from top European teams after his spectacular performances in the last two seasons, but the Smurfs believe another Nigerian striker can do the job if he leaves

Belgian Cup champions Genk have stated that they would call back Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers from his loan deal at Feyenoord to replace Paul Onuachu if the latter decides to leave Cegeka Arena.

Onuachu has been head and shoulders above every striker in the Jupiler League in the last two years. Last season, he had 35 strikes in 41 domestic appearances for the Smurfs claiming the MVP Award , and helping his side to a fifth Beker Van Belgie triumph.

However, his successes have come at a cost- compatriot Cyriel Dessers had to play second fiddle and was starved of game time, with the striker going on loan to Dutch side Feyenoord last summer.

Onuachu’s excellent performances have attracted top European clubs like Lyon, Arsenal,and West Ham but a move away from Belgium failed to materialise.

However, he could be on the move this summer as Genk would have to let him go for a fee this summer or let him go for free next summer when his contract expires.

The Limburgers are not disturbed as club chief Dimitri believes Dessers would be a suitable replacement for Onuachu.

Dessers has been excellent since he joined Feyenoord last summer. He has scored nine goals and assisted one in 24 appearances, most of which have been as substitutes.

The 27-year-old is not as big as Onuachu, but he is a deadly finisher, and he fits in quickly as he is already familiar with the Genk system.

There were quite a few interesting results across the country as matchday ten fixtures were played in the Nigeria Professional Football League. 

At the Adamasingba Stadium Ibadan, 3SC Shooting Stars continued their surge up the league table with a comprehensive 4-0 thrashing of Heartland. 

Following a goalless first half, the rain of goals flowed after the break with Daniel Kolawole, Taofeeq Malomo, Ayo Adejubu, and Nafiu Raheem finding the net to power the Okuyole Warriors to their fifth league win of the season.

Remo Stars maintained their unbeaten run when they played a 0-0 draw at Kano Pillars, with Maisu Gida dropping points on home soil for only the second time this campaign.

At one of the toughest away grounds in the country, Remo Stars proved their early season form was no fluke by holding the former champions to a stalemate and keeping within two points of league leaders Rivers United.

Rivers United jumped to the top of the table with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Dakkada at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

The home side had the goalscoring prowess of Ishaq Rafiu to thank for the victory with the 21-year-old scoring twice, the second a 60th-minute penalty, to cancel Ayaosi’s strike for the struggling visitors.

Rafiu is presently the league’s leading goalscorer with seven goals, three better than any of his closest challengers.

The George Finidi effect has all butt waned over Enyimba as the People’s Elephants fell to their fourth league loss after succumbing to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Nasarawa United.

Victor Mbaoma got the opening goal for the Aba giants in the 13th minute inside the Lafia Township Stadium.

But that was as good as it got for the visitors as Tolu Oluwole levelled for the Lafians five minutes later. And Shammasu Mohammed struck the winner deep into stoppage time to hurt Enyimba’s title dreams.

Ibrahim Buhari’s 5th-minute strike was all Plateau United needed to stun Rangers 1-0 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu. It is the Antelopes’ second home defeat this term, but they remain unbeaten in five away games.

NPFL Matchday 10 results
Katsina Utd 1-0 Sunshine Stars
Lobi 1-1 Tornadoes
Akwa Utd 1-1 Kwara Utd
3SC 4-0 Heartland
Kano Pillars 0-0 Remo Stars
Rivers Utd 2-1 Dakkada
Rangers 0-1 Plateau Utd
Abia Warriors 3-0 Wikki
Nasarawa Utd 2-1 Enyimba