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With Ghana pulling off a memorable 2-1 win over Nigeria and the Ivory Coast thrashing Guinea, Monday’s matches have a tough act to follow.

Still, the first one should be impressive, as we start off with a ferocious face-off between the mighty Pharaohs and the Palancas Negras (The Black Antelopes).

As with Sunday's fixtures, Monday’s afternoon kick-off brings together two sides with two very different stories here.

In one hand, we have an Egyptian side led by Egyptian manager Hassan Shehata, progressing ever so smoothly into the second round.

The title holders putting in a superb, 4-2 performance against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, then hunting down the Desert Hawks of Sudan, then drawing with the Copper Bullets of Zambia to clinch that crucial top spot in Group C. Here was one story that was just beginning.

On the other hand, the Black Antelopes of Angola, being led by arguably the most successful coach in the country's history, Luis Goncalves, have been one of the real surprise packages of the tournament.

Having been placed in a tough group alongside Tunisia, South Africa and the World-Cup-French-beating Senegalese team, many people wrote off the Angolan side, a team that never in the history of the CAN has ever passed the group stages.

Indeed, it was only the most hopeful and optimistic of fans that thought this Angolan side will go places. Goncalves proved doubters wrong with some excellent performances, most notably against Senegal, beating them by three goals to one, with new Manchester United/Panathanaikos star Manucho grabbing a brace. It seems that the Black Antelopes have yet to write the final chapter of this story.

Monday’s match against title holders Egypt couldn’t have come at a better time for the Angolan team. With two of their main players in Flavio and Gilberto playing their trade at Egypt’s most popular club, Al Ahly, manager Luis Goncalves will be hoping that his two trusted aces will provide him their extensive knowledge of the Egyptian psyche.

Goncalves will be prepping up those same players that beat Senegal and drew with Tunisia, with the likes of Manucho Goncalves, Ze Kalanga and the ever reliable Kali slotting in nicely into that lineup.

Egyptian Manager Shehata will have a dilemma on his hands. Having performed ever so well in the first match against Cameroon, the performance curve of the Egyptian team has been going downhill ever since, thus Shehata will be reconsidering playing in a slightly different matter against the Angolans.

He may opt to field a more attack-minded set of players, with Zidan and Abu Treika having the chance of playing together for the first time from the start of the match, with Treika claiming that supporting attacker/playmaker role and Zidan going as an out and out striker besides either Zaki or Met’eb. However,The midfield should remain unchanged, with Shawky and Abdel Rabo serving in defensive capacities.

After that draw against Zambia, one thing’s for sure - the players won’t need any pep talks, as they probably know a whole nation is watching them, rooting them on in spite of that poor performance in their last match. They now need only to deliver.

It’s that stage of the tournament where winners take all and losers gain nothing, and the players will need no reminding of that fact whatsoever. Thus we should be in for a hectic game of massive proportions with open ended game-play and lots of side battles.

With Angola having already come so far and Egypt holding onto that cup for dear life, this is one game no self respecting soccer fan should miss.

TEAM NEWS

Egypt

After suffering slight knocks in the Sudan match, it was thought that Ahmed Fathi and Hosni Abdel Rabo would be rested in the match against Zambia, but on the contrary, they played the full match. Now after taking a quick rest, they should be back to their full best in Monday’s game.

Thus once again Shehata should have all his players available - whether they’ll be performing to their full potential or not, only time will tell.

Squad

Essam al-Hadary (Al-Ahly), Mohamed Abdul Monsef (Zamalek), Mahmoud Fathallah (Zamalek), Tarek al-Sayed (Zamalek), Sayed Moawad and Hani Saied (Ismailia), Shady Mohamed (Al-Ahly), Ahmed Fathi (Al-Ahly), Wael Gomaa (Al-Siliya), Ibrahim Saied (Ankaragucu), Ahmed al-Muhammadi (ENPPI), Omar Gamal (Ismailia), Hosni Abd Rabou (Ismailia), Mohamed Aboutraika (Al-Ahly), Ahmed Hassan (Anderlecht), Hassan Mostafa (Al-Wehda), Mohamed Shawky (Middlesbrough), Ahmed Shaaban (Petrojet), Mohamed Fadl (Ismailia), Emad Moteab (Al-Ahly), Amr Zaki (Zamalek), Mohamed Zidan (Hamburg)

Angola

Manager Luis Goncalves seemed confident enough when he started the mind games with the Egyptians, warning them against a major upset, and his confidence trickled down to his players as Flavio blared out similar words.

Goncalves will be likely to field a similar lineup to the Senegal match, with the strike partnership of Flavio and Manucho leading the attacking side of the team. Ze Kalanga and Gilberto should bolster up the midfield, as they’re fit as well.

Squad

Lama (Petro Atletico), Mario (InterClube), Nuno (AS Aviacao), Marco Airosa (Fatima), Delgado (Metz), Jamba (AS Aviacao), Kali (FC Sion), Loco (Primeiro Agosto), Machado (Anadia), Rui Marques (Leeds United), Yamba Asha (Petro Atletico), Andre (Kuwait SC), Dede, Edson (both Pacos Ferreira), Figueiredo (Osters), Gilberto (Al Ahly), Maurito (Kuwait SC), Mendonca (Estrela Amadora), Ze Kalanga (Boavista), Flavio (Al Ahly), Love (Primeiro Agosto), Manucho (Petro Atletico), Mateus (Boavista)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Egypt

Mohamed Abu Treika - He hasn’t hit top form yet, but as people say, with great power comes greater responsibility. Thus it's not in any doubt that Abu Treika will be showing the whole footballing world why he’s regarded by many as one of the best African players to grace the continent's premier competition.

Angola

Manucho Goncalves - With some scintillating performances in the past three games, Manucho received heaps of praise, not just from soccer fans all over the world, but even from legendary Manucho’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson. He'll be on loan at Panathinaikos after the championship - a fine performance here will help him win the respect of the Greeks.

PREDICTION:

With both sides playing for high stakes, this match should provide soccer fans all over the world with 90 minutes of enthralling, entertaining football. Although the two tied in a friendly before the CAN started, Egypt will likely edge out the ambitious Angolan side by the narrowest of margins.


source:goal.com