Egypt's Homegrown Investment Reaps Dividends on African Stage

Many predicted the battle for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations would be between the stars who play in Europe and the foreign coaches in charge of the most-fancied teams.

Fans pinned their hopes on European-based players such as Ghana's Michael Essien, Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba, and Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o.

Twelve of the 16 coaches tasked with leading their side to the African crown were from outside the continent, with all but one of the favourites led by European bosses.

Some irony then that Egypt secured a defence of their 2006 title, and extended their haul of silverware as Africa's most successful side, with a squad largely consisting of domestic-based players led by Egyptian coach Hassan Shehata.

The Pharaohs' fans were worried by their team's form in qualifying, but Shehata remained resolute and forged a tight unit from the day his charges began their training camp on 25 December.

Whereas teams such as Nigeria allowed stars like Aiyegbeni Yakubu to join the squad late, and Mali let Mohammed Sissoko leave midway through the tournament to complete a transfer to Juventus, there were no such concessions from Shehata.

The Pharaohs' two Premier League stars, Middlesbrough's Mido and Derby County's Hossam Ghaly, were scratched from the plans when they missed the start of preparations because of injury and transfer complications.

Instead Shehata relied on talent playing in Egypt, with only two of the eleven players that started Sunday's final based outside the country.

It is questionable whether other African nations can loosen Egypt's stranglehold on the African title by providing enough lure to keep their top stars playing on home soil.

But Shehata's success may offer some encouragement to those who argue that the respective nations should employ home-based coaches.

As Ghana legend Abedi Pele said: "We learnt a lot from the way Egypt came here to win the tournament from day one," he said.

"Their courage, determination, preparation and hunger of their coach to win trophies has been a lesson to us all."