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