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CAF U23

CAMEROON SEEKS SEMIS AGAINST ALREADY QUALIFIED EGYPT

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A point will be enough for Cameroon to reach the ongoing U-23 Africa Cup of Nations when they face hosts Egypt on Thursday at Cairo International Stadium.

The final Group A match-day sees already qualified Egypt taking on Cameroon, with Ghana and Mali locking horns in a simultaneous kickoff at Al Salam Stadium.

Egypt tops the group with six points from two games, two richer than Cameroon who needs just a draw against the hosts to accompany them to the last four. Ghana has a lone point while Mali lost their chance after two successive defeats.

After a memorable comeback that saw them overturning a 2-1 score in the final eight minutes to win 3-2 against Ghana, The Olympic Pharaohs sealed their semifinal spot, with their eyes still on one of the three tickets to represent Africa in next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.

Egypt Coach Shawky Gharib might rest some of his key players including the likes of Mostafa Mohamed and Ramadan Sobhy who both grabbed the Man of the Match awards in the past games.

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 He already lost the injured Nasser Maher, with his replacement Ammar Hamdy suspended for the game.

Meanwhile Cameroon will hope to snatch at least a point to realize their qualification hopes, regardless what happens in the other group game.

After surrendering their lead late against Ghana, Les Lions defeated Mali 1-0, with inform Frank Evina scoring in both matches.

Former Captain and legend Rigobert Song will hope his comrades continue their fairytale run to have a place in the semis, with next summer’s Olympics ticket at stake.

-CAF

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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