Benni McCarthy has scored seven goals in the Nations Cup so far, but so has Hossam Hassan of Egypt, whom Bafana Bafana meet in the final. Andrew Muchineripi reports
The African Nations Cup final in Ouagadougou on Saturday will pit the flair and pace of defending champions South Africa against the cool, cunning assassins from Egypt.
Benni McCarthy against Hany Ramzy, John Moeti against Hazem Imam, Mark Fish against Hossam Hassan. The struggle for African supremacy oozes with individual clashes to capture the imagination.
Egypt were the only team to defeat South Africa when they won the Nations Cup on home soil two years ago with the now retired Ahmed al-Kass scoring an early goal which the Pharaohs successfully defended. While the Egyptian playing and coaching personnel have changed considerably, the style has not with the three-time champions favouring a cautious approach and catching opponents on the break.
A classic example was the semi-final against hosts Burkina Faso in Bobo-Dioulasso on Wednesday night, as Egypt soaked up everything the Stallions could throw at them and then delivered perfectly timed blows. With five minutes of the first half left and the enthusiastic but unimaginative Burkinabe growing increasingly frustrated, Gianluca Vialli-lookalike Hassan struck his sixth goal of the two-yearly tournament.
It was certainly not a vintage goal as the shaven-haired veteran from crack Cairo club Al-Ahly stabbed the ball over the line at the third attempt after his initial shot had been parried by goalkeeper Ibrahima Diarra. A second Egyptian goal was always going to sound the death knell and after consistent pressure from an increasingly desperate home team, Hassan latched on to clever back pass from Imam and scored with a low shot into the corner.
The goals and a Hassan header that went agonisingly close were all Egypt produced in the way of scoring chances, but they proved more than sufficient as the team reached the final for the first time in 12 years. While Hassan is a hero in the sand-strewn streets of Cairo, stand by for strong moves in the Western Cape to rename the region Benniland after seven-goal scoring sensation McCarthy.
When outsiders Democratic Republic of Congo snatched an early second-half lead over Bafana Bafana in the other semi-final, one pictured worry beads coming out in shebeens around the country.
This was the Congolese side that had successfully repulsed the much-vaunted attacks of four-time champions Ghana and World Cup qualifers Cameroon in previous matches, so why not a third time? Because Ghana and Cameroon do not have a Benni.
What a fairy tale for the 20-year-old native of the Cape Flats who had to share boots with his brother as a teenager because their parents could not afford two pairs. After hitting four past Namibia in a magical 13- minute spell, the doubters wondered whether he could also make his mark in more exalted company. The answer was swift and decisive.
He opened the scoring against Morocco in the quarter-finals and after cancelling the Congolese lead with a superb, swerving shot into the corner, demonstrated his physical presence to snatch the extra-time winner.
McCarthy and Hassan are now just two goals behind Mulamba Ndaye, the Democratic Republic of Congo striker who scored a record nine in the 1974 tournament won by his country.
The loss through suspension of captain Lucas Radebe and David Nyathi are major blows to Bafana Bafana, but if coach Jomo Sono has demonstrated one thing this month it is that he does not reside in a tactical straitjacket.
Better news is the likely return of leading scorer Philemon Masinga, whose presence can take some pressure off McCarthy, who must outwit two of the finest defenders on the continent in Ramzy and Samir Kamouna. Andrew Rabutla, known as the Jaws of Life, is also in line for a recall after missing the semi- final through suspension, while Sono keeps his fingers crossed that Helman Mkhalele and Brendan Augustine are passed fit.
In a tournament that has produced many entertaining matches and few poor ones, the scene is set for a fitting finale at an August 4 Stadium that hopefully will have more spectators than watched South Africa on Wednesday.
It is not that the Burkinabe do not love their football, just that the R30 admission charge is far beyond the means of most people in one of the poorest countries on the continent.
So open the gates, let the people in, and let us have a match befitting the coming of age of the African Nations Cup, a tournament being staged for the 21st time and for the last time this century.
ENDS