The semi-final schedule for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations is complete, with the four teams remaining all former champions while two of the coaches left – Ghana’s Claude Le Roy and Hassan Shehata of Egypt are previous winners at the tournament with the latter looking for a second successive title after guiding the Pharaohs to the trophy in 2006.

Someone is yet to match Egypt's five Nations Cup titles, three of which were won on home soil. And that can only come from either Ghana or Cameroon.

Ghana would be up against Cameroon at the Ohene Djan Stadium in the semi-finals on Thursday and both nations are looking to match Egypt's five titles, though one would certainly miss the plot.

Coaches of the two sides have worked at opposite ends in the past and clearly understand the cultures very well.

Claude Le Roy coached Cameroon to their second Nations Cup title success in 1988 while the 70-year-old Otto Pfister failed to taste glory when he led Black Stars to the finals of the tournament in 1992 before bowing out on penalties to Ivory Coast.

Ghana, host of the Nations Cup for the first time in 30 years have fans are banking of the Black Stars to win the titles the side won at home in 1963 and 1978.

And Claude Le Roy would sorely miss captain John Mensah as Ghana comes up against the Cameroonians who have several experienced campaigners including the goals record-breaker Samuel Eto’o. But Le Roy has a dedicated squad backed by a large home crowd to stop the lions from roaring.

Repeat of 2006 finals

The second semi-final game at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi line ups defending champions, Egypt against 2006 losing finalist, Ivory Coast.

Egypt's semifinal matchup with Ivory Coast will be a repeat of the 2006 final, which the Pharaohs won on home soil for a record fifth continental title.

And Hassan Shehata is the man guiding the Pharaoh’s again as they go in search of a place in the final and a possible sixth title.

The Pharaohs will be without three players who started the 2006 final. Injury rules out the influential Mohamed Barakat, Abdelhazer El Saqqa is unselected while fellow defender Mohamed Abdelwahab tragically died of a heart defect six months after Egypt's win.

However, playmaker Mohamed Aboutrika and key man Mohammed Zidan are available for selection.

Ivory Coast have just one title to their honours as Olympic coach Gerard Gili - who took over from Uli Stielike, the coach who resigned with just some days to the start of the tournament - has enough men at the back to shield any attack from the Pharaohs while he can count on Didier Drogba to lead the assault for a place in the finals.

The Ivorians have the men to push for a second successive berth at the finals but that would certainly not come easy.


SEMIFINALS
Thursday, February 7
Ghana v Cameroon
Ivory Coast v Egypt


THIRD-PLACE PLAY-OFF
Saturday, February 9
Loser SF1 v Loser SF2


FINAL
Sunday, February 10
Winner SF1 v Winner SF2