IBAF African-Nations-Cup 2006 Blog

Another of those close finals of a Nations Cup that had to be settled on penalty kicks.
Both teams had begun concentrated and focussed with defenders having the last word in the beginning.
Increasingly throughout the match the scene opened up and the chances became more and bigger.
Had Egypt had the edge in possession in the binginning, the Ivorians took over from the middle of the second half on.
In the end the Ivorians had about double as many shot attempts as the hosts.
The brightest chance of the first 90 minutes had been for Drogba who had taken a low cross directly but scooped it over the bar from 6 meters out.
For those who love to reduce matches on single events later the game had two more spectacular events:
The first was a fluke, when an Egyptian goal after a goalkeeping error was ruled out for offside after 85 minutes. It only had been a topic because some reporters and apparently the TV director had missed the clear signal by the referee.
In extra time after 95 minutes the referee decided for a penalty for Egypts, satisfying the klischees of preferring the hosts.
Damage was limited because the penalty could not be converted as Ahmed Hassan hit only the goalpost.
He did different in the penalty shoot out. Though one Egyptian penalty flew wide, Egypt won thanks to keeper Hadary who parried two Ivorian penalty in great manor.