Aboubakar in a press conference before Cameroon’s match against Egypt made some comments about Salah which has got a lot of people talking. Some people claim it’s just a mind game to put Salah off his game.
It’s a clash of two titans in the second Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final as five-time champions Cameroon, who’ve reached this stage for the ninth time, meet Egypt – the only team to have won this competition more often than them (seven times).
Cameroon – the tournament hosts – are now unbeaten in nine matches (W8, D1) and are bidding to make more history having won each of their last eight AFCON semi-final outings without conceding!
(Aboubakar celebrating a goal)
Adding to the sense of occasion, these two giants of African football haven’t met since the 2017 AFCON final, a game in which Cameroon won 2-1 to end a prior seven-match winless H2H sequence (D2, L5).
With the ‘Indomitable Lions’ scoring six of their last nine goals after half-time, if they’re behind at the break – as they were five years ago – they won’t be overly worried.
Also used to going the distance, Egypt won on penalties in their round of 16 victory against Ivory Coast then needed extra-time to see off Morocco 2-1 in the quarter-final.
They qualified for the knockouts despite scoring just twice in the group stage (W2, L1) so although the ‘Pharaohs’ haven’t found top gear just yet, they’ve used all of their experience and guile to stay in the tournament.
That suggests that this repeat of the 2008 and 2017 AFCON finals will be another tight battle and notably, these two sides’ respective semi-finals in 2017 both produced exactly two goals, with all four strikes coming after the 70th minute.
(Salah Celebrating a goal)
Egypt have also won each of their last six AFCON semi-finals so shouldn’t be overawed by the occasion.
Aboubakar stated: He doesn’t impress me much. I say it clearly because I’m an honest person & I have my way of seeing things. If he impressed me, I would say so. He doesn’t impress me much. He’s a good player, he scores a lot but he doesn’t produce a lot of stuff in the game.”
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