2017 Africa Cup of Nations Final


The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Final was a football match to determine the winner of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. The match was held at the Stade de l'Amitié in Libreville, Gabon, on 5 February 2017 and was contested by Egypt and Cameroon.
Cameroon won the match 2–1 for their fifth Africa Cup of Nations title. As winners, they represented CAF at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.

Background

Egypt appeared in their 23rd tournament, and their 9th final. They have previously won 7 and lost the 1962 final against Ethiopia at the Hailé Sélassié Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Cameroon appeared in their 18th tournament, and their 7th final. They have previously won 4 and lost 2. Egypt and Cameroon had met in two Africa Cup of Nations finals before. Egypt won both of those finals.
Egypt were 35th in the FIFA World Rankings, while Cameroon were 62nd.

Route to the final

Match

Summary

received the ball from Mohamed Salah and opened the scoring after 22 minutes when he cut in from the right and shot right-footed high to the roof of the net past Fabrice Ondoa on his left side. Cameroon were level after 59 minutes when substitute Nicolas Nkoulou rose highest to score with a header to the right corner of the net after a cross from the left by Benjamin Moukandjo. With 2 minutes left, Vincent Aboubakar got the winning goal when he controlled a long ball forward with his chest on the edge of the box, and flicked the ball over Ali Gabr before gathering and shooting right footed low to the right of the goalkeeper from 12 yards out.
In summarising the "thrilling, edgy" final, BBC Sport noted that Egypt started comfortably, but allowed their opponents to come at them in the second half. Cameroon limited Egypt to mostly playing long balls, and their increasing pressure meant that the Egyptian players succumbed to fatigue in the closing stages of the match. CNN's match report concluded that Aboubakar being brought on at half time revitalised Cameroon's attack and was a turning point in the game.

Details




Match rules
  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Maximum of three substitutions.

    Statistics

StatisticEgyptCameroon
Goals scored10
Total shots25
Shots on target21
Saves11
Ball possession37%63%
Corner kicks01
Fouls committed75
Offsides00
Yellow cards00
Red cards00

StatisticEgyptCameroon
Goals scored02
Total shots210
Shots on target02
Saves00
Ball possession39%61%
Corner kicks05
Fouls committed49
Offsides10
Yellow cards13
Red cards00

StatisticEgyptCameroon
Goals scored12
Total shots415
Shots on target23
Saves11
Ball possession38%62%
Corner kicks06
Fouls committed1114
Offsides10
Yellow cards13
Red cards00

Records

This final witnessed an end of several long-held records, like:
  1. Egypt 's loss in this final against Cameroon is Egypt's first ever loss in the Africa cup of nations finals against Cameroon. Egypt won over Cameroon by penalties in the 1986 final, and by Mohamed Aboutrika's only goal in the 2008 final. Cameroon's win over Egypt is the first since the 2002 African Cup of Nations.
  2. Egypt's loss in this final is the first since the 1962 African Cup of Nations final, their only loss in the Africa cup of nations finals before 2017.
  3. Nicolas Nkoulou's goal against Egypt in this final is the first goal to be conceded by Egypt in the Africa cup of nations finals since Mengistu Worku's goal in the 1962 African Cup of Nations final.
  4. Cameroon's win over Egypt in this final ended a record of 24 successive games has not lost by Egypt from the 0-0 draw with Cameroon in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations.