Cameroon had to swallow the bitter pill of missing out on the prestigious Afcon final on home soil.

The hosts lost out to Egypt in the semifinal stage when they played out 120 minutes of barren draw and where ejected from the penalty spot kicks.

Cameroon Saudi Arabia based Vincent Abubaker was the only player who converted from the spot kick.

Harold Moukoudi, James Lea Siliki and Clinton N’Jie all failed with their attempts.

The Indomitable Lions had too much of Egypt playmaker Mohammed Salah in their pre match plans.

Cameroon’s Portuguese coach António Conceição da Silva Oliveira came into this semi final with a changed game plan.

The Lions have played with four at the back in their journey in this Afcon finals. The hosts adopted 3-4-3 tactical approach.

Cameroon coach Conceicao went for Jean Charles Castelleto, Michael Ngadeu and Tolo as the three at the back.

Then had Collins Fai, Andre Zambo Anguissa, Oum Gouet and Martin Hongla parading the midfield. While Nicolas Moumi Ngameleu, Ababubaker and Karl Toko Ekambi led the line.

Cameroon coach shaped his team majorly to lock out Egypt playmaker Salah. Tolo and Hongla were deployed on the left side of the pitch to specifically play out that role.

The Lions pair did an amazing job keeping the Liverpool forward quiet. Tolo was in Salah’s sight for the better part of the game.

The plan helped the hosts but little did they know their men who has been on the flanks driving the balls forward and whipping crosses were asked to play cautious.

The Lions’ duo Hongla and Fai have been instrumental to them in contributing to goals. They both contributed two assists in their way to the semi final match against Egypt.
The cautious Cameroon approached limited their forward play.

The Lions’ goal machine Abubaker cut a lonely figure at the tip of their game. He was tactically marked out of the game and could do little to add his influence to the proceedings.

Cameroon were playing an Egypt side that had mastered their game. The North Africans stuck to their 4-3-3 and ably shut out the host’s deadly attack.

Ahmed El Fotouh, Mahmoud Hamdi, Mohamed Abdelmonem and Omar Kamal have been outstanding in this tournament only conceding only two goals.

Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny Hamdi Fathi and Amr El Solia had the lion’s share of the proceedings at the heart of the midfield.

Egypt have set themselves up against Mane’s Senegal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT1X9bTTH6A