Egypt's Ahmed Hassan
January 12, 2009
It took an inspired performance from Egypt’s veteran skipper Ahmed Hassan to lead the defending African Champions to a convincing 3-1 victory over Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the opening game in Group C at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
Spurred on by the wind blowing across the field from the Atlantic ocean in Benguela, Nigeria threatened to blow over the Egyptians during the early exchanges.
Playing in his eighth Africa Cup of Nations with his first being in Burkina Faso in 1998 the Egyptian skipper used his past experience and helped steady the ship when his team went 1-0 down, it was he who set up Emad Moteab for the games equalizer with a fantastic ground ball which tore apart the Nigerian defence.
With the aid of a deflection off Nigerian defender Taye Taiwo Hassan gave Egypt the lead in the 54th minute and it was his calming effect on the six time African Champions that helped them stay on top of the Super Eagles and eventually they managed to score a third goal.
Astonishingly the 34 year old midfielder who will celebrate his 35th birthday this year has already won three Nations Cup Winners medals, from the performance he put in on Tuesday it looks as though he could come close to number four if he keeps on putting up displays like he did against Nigeria.