Egypt 1-1 Zambia

Cameroon 3-0 Sudan

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the action

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By David Ornstein

1920: Well thank you all for a thoroughly enjoyable morning/afternoon/evening (depending on where you are). You contributions were greatly appreciated. darkanddom at 1901 must surely be the winner?

Don't forget you can watch Ivory Coast v Guinea live on Saturday on BBC3 on Sunday at 2000 GMT as well another quarter-final - Group D winners v Group C runners-up - on Monday at the same time.

BBC3 will be also showing one of the semi-finals at 2000 GMT and the final is live on BBC2 AT 1630 GMT.

Otherwise that's just about all from me. I don't know about you but I can't wait for Thursday's action - the last round of group games:

Senegal v South Africa in Kumasi at 1700 GMT Tunisia v Angola in Tamale at 1700 GMT

See you then!

1905: Asking you to guess who was given the man of the match award in Tamale would be a futile exercise. It was, of course, a certain Mr Eto'o. But I must say his all-round performance was below par.

The fair play award went to Haitham Mostafa of Sudan.

1901: I asked for Eto'o tributes and how about this:

"Majestic Eto'o!!!! Oh thy majesty Samuel Eto'o!!! All hail to the Lions. Write them off at your own peril. Whether it is Tunisia or Angola, the Lions will stalk, ambush, roar, bite, crush the spinal cord, crush the wind pipe, suffocate, kill and devour. An "aging" team my derriere. Never ever forget why they are called the Indomitable Lions (the aberration with Egypt notwithstanding). Ten goals so far (the majestic Eto'o with five). On to the next antelope to devour. Allez les Lions!!!!!!!!"
darkanddom on 606

1900: "Cameroon's first game was very discouraging but I'm glad they are now up. I hope they reach the final and grab the Cup to prove they are kings of Africa."
Julius, via text on +4477862022008

1852: FULL TIME
It's all over in both games. Egypt resist Zambia's mini onslaught in Kumasi, while Cameroon cruise home in Tamale.

So here we have it guys and girls.

Egypt win group C and will play the runners up of group D (to be decided on Thursday) in Kumasi on Monday 4 February at 1700 GMT.

Cameroon finish in second and will play the winners of group D in Tamale on the same day at 20.30 GMT.

Zambia have still not managed to qualify from the group stage since finishing third in 1996.

Sudan, the 1970 winners competing for the first time since 1976, fall at the first hurdle for the third consecutive time.

1850:GOAL Cameroon 3-0 Sudan
Samuel Eto'o nets his 16th career Nations Cup goal with a cool finish after Modeste Mbami's lofted ball over Sudan's back four.

1849: GOAL Egypt 1-1 Zambia
Chris Katongo collects a deep cross, steps inside Ahmed Fathi and rifles his shot in at the near post. Here we go!!!

1845: "Otto Pfister should quit. Complaining all the time about food. Doesn't look very hungry to me."
TTF on 606

1840: "Weah is my best African striker ever. The FIFA world and European player of the year awards says it all. He played like no other African has ever."Okurut Joseph, Olso, via text on +4477862022008

1839: Roger Lemerre, whose Tunisia side are likely to qualify from group D and face the group C winners or runners-up, is watching from the stands. Also in the crowd is Cameroon legend Roger Milla.

They've been treated to an open encounter - not quite a feast of football but entertaining all the same. If results stay as they are and Tunisia beat Angola on Thursday, Lemerre's men will face Cameroon in Tamale next Monday, 5 February.

1833: "Cameroon are really showing their class. A classic final should be Cameroon v Ivory Coast,"
Anon, via on +4477862022008

1828: Sudan have a free-kick from the right-hand edge of Cameroon's box well saved. This is end-to-end stuff.

In Kumasi it's all Egypt but they are still only sitting on a one-goal advantage. Anything can happen.

1827: "I hope Cameroon have got enough lunch today as several officials and the coach nearly went without last night as supplies ran short."
BBC World Service's Nick Cavell in Tamale

1825: "Eto'o may hold the record for most goals in Nations Cup history, BUT without any doubt, George Weah remains the BEST all-round striker to come out of Africa..........the real King of African goals....and rates among the top 5 in the world...."
CCF on 606

1822:BBC World Service's Inas Mazhar in Kumasi says there are about 5,000 spectators in the stadium and that the smoke is drifting in.

1820: "Not many fans compared to other games here. A few Cameroon fans with loud drums. I can't see any from Sudan."
BBC World Service's Nick Cavell in Tamale

1815: The game in Tamale is as open as you'll see all tournament but in Kumasi only one side looks like scoring and it's not Zambia.

1811: Double-opportunity for Sudan in Tamale. Yousef Alaeldin's drive is well saved by Idriss Carlos Kameni and Haitham Tambal fires over just seconds later. Cameroon counter-attack and Samuel Eto'o, clean though on goal, side-foots straight into the grateful hands of Mahjoub El Moez.

"Without a doubt Eto'o is one of Africa's finest strikers. He has the skill and the pace to match any of the world s best strikers."
Simon, via text on +4477862022008

1810: Did any of you hear or read the quotes from Pfister on Cameroon preparation for the match and their missing luggage? Well if not here they are:

"It's a total catastrophe. We left Kumasi on Tuesday morning and they told us a helicopter would follow with our bags.

"We arrive here and we don't have any shirts or balls. Our hotel rooms weren't ready. We had to wait three hours in the foyer and our meal was served very late.

"I don't know who is responsible but it's a total catastrophe in terms of organisation.

"On Monday in Kumasi we wanted to eat at 1330, but the owner of the hotel had forgotten to hand over the keys to the kitchen.

"Every day there's something. Remember, we've got several world stars in the squad - it's really hard trying to keep up the team's morale."

Did the part about the keys to the kitchen have you in stitches, too?

1805: Egypt have settled quickly and look to be cruising into the knockout rounds. What's going on with Zambia?

1803: And here we go! For all Samuel Eto'o fans out there I have the pleasure of telling you he has re-emerged for the second half - Pfister has resisted the opportunity to wrap him up in cotton wool just yet.

1802: All four sets of players are back out on their respective pitches.

1800: Is Eto'o the best striker in African football history? If not, who is? I'd love to hear read your thoughts. Clearly some of you are not happy with the role he is playing in the Cameroon set-up.

"If it is true that Eto'o is running the team now, I don't see how far Cameroon will go. Who does he think who he is? No team can win with any player running the team."
littlejklc on 606

1755: The Samuel Eto'o tributes are already coming in.

"Yessssssssssssssssssss!! He's done it. My Samuel has officially become the greatest striker Africa has ever had. Now Samuel, let's score from open play. Vamos!!!"
Elfenomeno_9 on 606

1748:HALF TIMEThe whistles sound and, as things stand, Egypt and Cameroon are heading into the last eight. Jacob Mulenga has looked lively for Zambia who, with the Indomitable Lions heading for an easy victory against Sudan, must beat the Pharaohs.

1740: Cameroon have a chance to make it three but former Middlesbrough striker Joseph Desire Job heads straight at Mahjoub El Moez.

1735:GOAL Cameroon 2-0 Sudan
Joel Epalle drills in a dangerous cross-cum-shot from the right and, following an unfortunate bout of pinball, Mohamed Ali Khider diverts the ball into his own net.

1734: In relation to my Otto Pfister question (see 1640) we have a response.

"Otto Pfister is irrelevant to Cameroon, I met someone in the camp in Kumasi who said Eto'o now runs the team."
Henry, via text on +4477862022008

1728:GOAL Cameroon 1-0 Sudan
Guess who?

Samuel Eto'o becomes that Africa Cup of Nations' all-time leading goalscorer (15 goals) with a penalty. Yousif Alaeldin brings down Toulouse midfielder Achille Emana and Eto'o sends Mahjoub El Moez the wrong way from the spot.

1725: Apologies for any of you who experienced difficulties trying to tune into the Egypt-Zambia game. I'm told the problems have been rectified.

Zambia, for the record, are really turning up the heat. It's all out attack.

1715:GOAL Egypt 1-0 Zambia
Amr Zaki produces a rasping left-foot volley from Sayed Moawad's inch-perfect left-wing cross to put the reigning champions a goal to the good. The Chipolopolo must now pull out all the stops if they are going to progress.

"Another good win for Egypt I hope. I've been very impressed with them so far. I will also cast my eye over Cameroon's goalkeeper, Kameni who has been linked with Tottenham. I haven't been very impressed with him so far."
st1989 on 606

1710: After a technical fault we finally have pictures from Kumasi, but no sooner the pictures go again. As soon as the link is established I'll give you an update.

In the dusty city of Tamale, the Nile Crocodiles are proving no match for the Indomitable Lions. It's one-way traffic.

1705: Barely a minute is on the clock in Kumasi when Joseph Desire Job has a shot well saved by Sudan's goalkeeper Mahjoub El Moez. The rebound came out to Samuel Eto'o, who smashed his shot at Abdalla before the 26-year-old Barca man rifled the second rebound over. He had to score!

1702: And we're off. Referee Kokou Djaoupe seemed to wait an age to make sure his match in Tamale started at exactly the same time as the Kumasi fixture.

1657: Ready to go in Kumasi where apparently there is smoke engulfing the pitch but I'll keep you posted.

Egypt: Al Hadari, Mohamed, Said, Moawad, Wael Gomaa, Ahmed Fathi, Abd, Rabou, Shawky, Hassan, Moteab, Zaki.

Zambia: Mweene, Musonda, Himonde, Mwanza, Hachilensa, Chansa, Bakala, Katongo, Katongo, Mulenga, Chamanga.

1656: The national anthems are being played in a near-empty Tamale Sports Centre.

And here are the teams:

Cameroon: Kameni, Geremi, Rigobert Song, Atouba, Andre Bikey, Mbami, Emana, Epalle, Song, Eto'o, Desire Job.

Sudan: El Moez, Bakheit, Ali Khider, Al Tayeb, Damar, Alaeldin, Justin Lado, Mostafa, Bashir, Tambal, Agab.

1655:BBC World Service's Inas Mazhar in Kumasi says the attendance for Egypt-Zambia is looking poor. Why, why, why?

1640: Any Cameroon fans out there? I'd like to know your thoughts on Otto Pfister. At 70 he is the oldest coach at the Nations Cup and his appointment, replacing Jules Nyongha, doesn't seem to have gone down too well.

The German didn't even make the shortlist of five for the post but, from what I understand, sports minister Augustin Edjoa intervened, offering Pfister a three-year deal that infuriated the public.

1630: A potential problem at the Egypt-Zambia match appears to have been averted!

Kumasi locals routinely burn sawdust and rubbish when the sun sets in the hope that the smoke will ward off mosquitoes.

The result is that toxic smoke has been blowing into the stadium affecting both players, spectators and commentators.

According to BBC World Service's Richard Connelly in Kumasi, Mayor of Kumasi - Patricia Appiah-Adjei - says that she and the local organising committee have taken steps to ensure it doesn't happen again.

"KLOC (Kumasi local organising committee) will take legal proceedings against anyone burning the sawdust as it breaks local byelaws," said Appiah-Adjei.

The smoke does cause breathing difficulties and coughing which doesn't help in what is a very dry and dusty atmosphere anyway.

With the bonfires being lit at 1800 GMT there were concerns that the players could be affected during the second half.

1620: Good afternoon one and all. I welcome you to day 11 at the Africa Cup of Nations - crunch time in Group C.

Many a keen African football observer pinpointed this, rather that Group B, as the Nations Cup 'group of death'.

The two less decorated sides - Zambia and Sudan - hit a rich vein of form coming into the tournament while five-time champions Egypt were far from convincing in qualifying.

But the group has not been as closely fought as many would have expected.

Egypt top the group with six points from two games and their passage to the quarter-finals will be guaranteed with at least a point against Zambia in Kumasi.

Meanwhile, victory against bottom-of-the-table Sudan will secure Cameroon's place in the last eight if Zambia fail to beat Egypt.

BUT...I must warn you there may well be a couple of very important twists and turns(Egypt could still go out, Zambia could still go through etc), so I beg you to have a read of the permutations.

And while you're at it, you could let me know your score and qualification predictions.

If all that wasn't enough we've got the prospect of Eto'o, currently the joint all-time leading Nations Cup goalscorer on 14, breaking the competition record.

Will he do it? Is he the best African striker of all time?

What an afternoon we have in store ladies and gentlemen!

I'm looking for lots of action on the pitch and plenty of chat off it so make sure you get involved via the text or on 606.
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