The games must go on - Afrika Cup 2022

The traumatic events in front of the Stade d’Olmebé on Monday are still in my bones. That's why it's anything but difficult for me to say goodbye to the capital Yaoundé. Whether I will make it to Douala in time for the round of 16 between Côte d'Ivoire and Egypt is a challenge. By bus, cab and the obligatory motorcycle, I make it to the Stade Japoma despite traffic jams. But already at the first access check the difficulties begin. My suitcase is not allowed into the stadium, a young policeman tells me. His superior said I could check into a hotel nearby and leave my luggage there. But that is not an option 25 minutes before kickoff. Commissaire Bawak Nso-Ako finally offers me to leave the suitcase in his police car to pick it up after the game. We exchange phone numbers and talk briefly about David Alaba's transfer to Real.

At the next security check, a resolute gendarme makes it clear to me that my small backpack must also remain outside. Assurances that I, as an accredited journalist, need my laptop are of little avail. As a compromise, I have to leave dangerous objects behind: These are not only a lighter and a water bottle, but oddly enough also a hand sanitizer, cigarettes and an orange. Further ahead at the turnstiles, however, no more agreement can be reached, the steward is relentless. I have to go back and then to the entrance for the VIPs.

VICTORY OF THE STATISTICS

Only 10 minutes late, I take my seat high up on the packed press grandstand, drenched in sweat. It's immediately clear who the Cameroonian fans in the stadium are rooting for: Egypt! When Liverpool superstar Mo Salah starts to dribble, cheers erupt. There are videos on the web showing Cameroonians learning the Egyptian national anthem.

The stadium, with a capacity of around 50,000, is a good third full on this sultry late afternoon. Those who are there, however, unleash an amazing soundscape of brass bands in continuous mode and vuvuzelas. The atmosphere is good, and apart from the condolences that keep appearing on the advertising boards, there is little to remind us of the inconceivable disaster of two days ago.

Africa Cup champion Egypt has more of the game in the first half. Stuttgart's Omar Marmoush knocks the ball against the crossbar in the 15th minute, and keeper Badra Ali Sangara twice deflects Mo Salah's shot over the goal. The Ivorians come back shortly before the break with a spectacular side-footed shot by Ibrahim Sangaré (PSV Eindhoven). Egypt scored only two goals in the preliminary round, finishing second in the group after losing to Nigeria. By contrast, two-time Africa Cup winners Côte d'Ivoire went into the match as group winners after beating tournament favorites Algeria 3-1.

After the break, Côte d'Ivoire pushes the pace. But the Ivorian attack remains harmless. Ajax striker Sébastien Haller seems like a foreign body at times. The misunderstandings with his supporting players are obvious. The Egyptians under Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz do what they have always been good at, they drag the game out. After a long 120 minutes, the score is still 0-0. In the history of the competition, the two teams have already faced each other twice in a penalty shootout, with the Egyptians coming out on top twice. And it comes as it must. Manchester United defender Eric Bailly, one of the best players on the bumpy turf at the Stade Japoma today, misses his attempt, but Mo Salah holds his nerve as the last shooter and converts expertly. Côte d'Ivoire, host of the 2023 Africa Cup, now has to say goodbye here as well after being eliminated in the World Cup qualifiers in November.

On the way to the commissaire, Salah chants and fraternization gestures between Cameroonians and Egyptians accompany me. The hundreds of Egyptian fans who have arrived are rushed to the airport. The bus column is led by the limousine of the Egyptian ambassador and escorted by howling police cars and military companions. After a little asking around, I also find Commissaire Bawak and get my suitcase. The orange, cigarettes and co. are also still there.

DIFFICULT FORECASTS

Egypt will meet the Moroccans, who are playing strongly, in the quarterfinals on Sunday. Originally, the match was to have been played at the Stade d'Olembé in Yaoundé, but due to the accident, the match will now be played at the smaller and aging Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé. In general, a lot of things were thrown into confusion after the second round: Due to the badly battered stadium turf in the economic capital Douala, only one quarterfinal will take place there. On Saturday, host Cameroon will meet the surprise team of this Africa Cup, Gambia. Sunday's fourth-final match between Senegal and Equatorial Guinea was also moved to Ahidjo Stadium by CAF at short notice. Garoua, the northern city on the border with Nigeria and Chad, remains the venue for the match between Burkina Faso and Tunisia.

From a sporting point of view, the 33rd Africa Cup has been a real surprise so far! Four-time champion Ghana had to leave without a win for the first time in the history of the competition. Algeria, the defending champions, who had not lost a game since 2018 and were already looking at Italy's record of 37 unbeaten games, also went down in Cameroon.

Who will hold the Cup on February 6 - the venue is still unknown - is also a question of psyche. Due to strict corona protection measures, the larger teams in particular will be hermetically sealed off. The Africa Cup lasts four weeks, plus the preparation, which is a very long time in a state of emergency.

On paper, as in Egypt 2019, Senegal is the top favorite. However, the team only managed a single goal in the preliminary round. The big question is when the individually highly talented players like Sadio Mané, Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gueye will come together as a team. At least the team has yet to concede a goal in the current tournament, and Chelsea FC's Édouard Mendy is the newly crowned world goalkeeper between the posts. At the first Africa Cup in 50 years in their own country, Cameroon will be looking for nothing less than a sixth title. Even if Gambia should not pose a hurdle, potential semifinal opponents Morocco certainly would. There, coach Vahid Halilhodzic, who didn't even call up Chelsea attacker Hakim Ziyech in the first place, places a lot of emphasis on team structure. So far, that seems to be paying off. In addition, Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi is playing big and also scored two nice free-kicks. A final between Morocco and Senegal would therefore be an obvious choice, but what is obvious at this Africa Cup?

Douala, 28 January 2021, Kurt Wachter

More about the history of the Africa Cup can also be found here: Focus from 2019.
More from Kurt Wachter about this year's edition will soon be available online and in ballesterer 169.