From UEFA site:
Star strikers on semi-final quest
Friday, 3 February 2006
by Matthew Spirofrom Alexandria
A host of European-based players will be on display in Egypt as the African Cup of Nations quarter-finals get under way on Friday with a west African derby between Guinea and Senegal.
French-based forwards
Guinea, the surprise winners of Group C ahead of defending champions Tunisia, will be looking in particular to their French-based forwards to upset the Teranga Lions in Alexandria. AS Saint-Etienne playmaker Pascal Feindouno has been in fine form, scoring three of Guinea's seven goals, and he should start on the right with Toulouse FC winger Fode Mansare on the left. AC Ajaccio striker Kaba Diawara will compete with Stoke City FC's Sambégou Bangoura for the role of lone forward.
Diouf doubt
Meanwhile, Syli Nationale centre-back Dianbobo Baldé is likely to come up against his former Celtic FC team-mate Henri Camara who will lead the line for Senegal. The Wigan Athletic FC attacker should continue his partnership with Olympique de Marseille's Mamadou Niang, while Bolton Wanderers FC midfielder El Hadji Diouf faces a late fitness test on a knee injury.
'Given another life'
Senegal's joint-coach Amara Traoré believes his side are underdogs after losing two of their three group matches. "Guinea are in better form than us but after squeezing through by the skin of our teeth we feel we have been given another life here," said Traoré.
Fans favourite
A capacity crowd is expected in Cairo's International stadium later on Friday as the hosts entertain the DR Congo. While the majority of the Egypt team is made up of home-based players, the fans' favourite Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam plays for Tottenham Hotspur FC while the Pharaohs are captained by Beşiktaş JK playmaker Ahmed Hassan.
Leading performer
However, Mido, who scored the tournament's opening goal against Libya, could miss out through injury. "He's having treatment but we're not certain if he's going to play," said Egypt coach Hassan Shehata. There is sure to be one Premiership striker on the pitch, though, as Portsmouth FC's Lomana Trésor LuaLua leads out the Simbas. LuaLua has been his country's star performer in Egypt, and registered in their opening game against Togo.
Rich form
On Saturday, Tunisia take on Nigeria in Port Said hoping that their Toulouse forward Francileudo Santos continues his rich international form. Santos, whose goals fired the Carthage Eagles to the title two years ago, has already struck four times in this tournament, including a hat-trick against South Africa. The Brazilian-born attacker will receive support from ES Troyes Aube Champagne playmaker Ziad Jaziri.
Martins goals
Nigeria have their own in-form striker in Obafemi Martins of FC Internazionale Milano. Martins netted twice late on to sink Senegal on Tuesday and will be partnered either by Stephen Makinwa of US Città di Palermo or Julius Aghahowa of FC Shakhtar Donetsk. The much-hyped SFK Lyn Oslo teenager John Obi Mikel - a target of both Manchester United FC and Chelsea FC - may have to settle for a place on the bench.
Cameroon test
The last quarter-final, also on Saturday, is arguably the most enticing as four-time winners Cameroon tackle FIFA World Cup debutants Ivory Coast in Cairo's Military stadium. The tie pits Africa's foremost two frontmen against each other, with FC Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o on one side and Chelsea's Didier Drogba the other. Eto'o has been the star of the tournament so far, hitting five goals compared to Drogba's two. The pair will go head to head again later this month when their clubs meet in the UEFA Champions League.
