Cup of Nations: Readers' stories part III

Hundreds of thousands of Egyptian football fans have taken to the streets after Egypt's victory over Cameroon. Here, readers from across Africa reflect on the tournament.

You can read their thoughts posted before the Cup and mid-way through the tournament by following the links below.

Readers' accounts part two

Readers' accounts part one

Read your comments

MAGED ALI HASSAN, EGYPT

Name: Maged Ali Hassan Town: Cairo Age: 27 Job: Business owner

You should have seen how people reacted when the goal came yesterday! Me and my friends jumped out of our seats!

People were screaming and hugging each other. The streets of Cairo were out of this world.

The Cup was good for me, for the people of Egypt, for the country.

The tournament brought unity to our nation. During and after the big games people gathered around their television sets - young and old, boys and girls, Muslims and Christians.

Throughout the tournament, all the coffee shops were packed with people watching the games on flat screen TVs. In fact, you needed a reservation to get a seat. I chose to watch the games with a group of friends at my home.

Egypt celebrates: readers' photos

Whenever Egypt won, me and my friends hugged and kissed, my family would call me and say 'mabrouk' - which means congratulations in Arabic. It's as if we were celebrating the arrival of a new baby!

African players showed the world how dangerous they will be in South Africa 2010. I see this tournament as a warning for European countries that they should be ready for a tough challenge in 2010.

Before the tournament people did not see Egypt as favourites - and said we only won in 2006 because the tournament was in Egypt. But we have shown everyone that Egypt is one of the best football teams in the world.

LEILA KIGHA, CAMEROON

Name: Leila Kigha Town: Douala Age: 26 Job: Journalist

Oh! I would have felt better had we won!

As it is, I am disappointed. The loss is so hard to take but I guess we will survive.

It is total gloom here. Victory would have been a good break from the everyday reality given the political climate in the country. But, nevertheless, life continues!

There are however people in Cameroon who can't take it! I have a colleague who says he will need days to accept it!

One of the lowest moments was when Egypt defeated us in the opening match by four goals to two.

I thought it was the beginning of the end for us at that point. But, lo and behold, the qualifying match against Zambia got my hopes up.

The competition will remain engraved in our memories forever. It brought all Africans together and made the continent the focus of the world.

We all are proud of our continent and we hope the competition continues in the future and serves as a forum for negotiations and peace talks between nations.

Congratulations to Egypt - you guys did a good job. Till we meet again in 2010, peace.

ARISTO NII ARYEE, GHANA

Name: Aristo Nii Aryee Town: Accra Age: 43 Job: Financial Analyst

I greatly enjoyed the tournament and I just can't wait for the next one in Angola.

Although I was a bit disappointed that we didn't lift the trophy, I still think the Black Stars did well.

I watched the first few games on TV outside Accra. But for the rest of them I was the in the thick of celebrations and ecstasy. I couldn't afford to miss a single moment - even the games that Ghana didn't play in.

Our country has benefited immensely from this cup because it has brought us into the limelight once again and the legacy - in terms of infrastructure and the like - is marvellous.

Come to Ghana now and see. Though we are in an election year - which has hitherto brought division and rancour - at least for now we Ghanaians are less divided.

The support, attendance and the atmosphere at matches, even games that did not involve Ghana, was fantastic.

The fans of the participating nations, our Ghanaian hosts and visiting football fans from other parts of the world were all around to celebrate football, socialise and simply have fun.

My fear now is, now that the tournament is over we might revert back to hearing horrible news items everyday about civil strife, tribal and political conflicts, starvation across Africa and so on.

WILKINS O. MULEMI, KENYA

Name: Wilkins O Mulemi Town: Nairobi Age: 34 Job: Insurance

The tournament was a success. The organizers have once more proven that Africa can handle its affairs prudently if given the chance. The teams also upset the predictions by the bookmakers who tipped Ivory Coast to be the favourites.

The cup brought in some sense of unity especially among the youth. We forgot our troubles and challenges and we got together for soccer. My friends and I were all keenly watching every match and exchanging notes at the end of every game.

You could see total strangers sharing notes on their favourite sides even in Matatus - the minibuses here in Kenya.

Even in bars and restaurants people were always engaged in animated exchanges in a typical Nairobi fashion.

My family was also closely following the game. My wife was supporting Samuel Eto'o Fils of Cameroon and she was so disappointed when he did not score yesterday.

Most Kenyans were backing Cameroon and we were disappointed when they did not clinch the cup.

I look forward to South Africa hosting the 2010 World Cup. It will be a good opportunity to spread peace in Africa. It will also be good for the economies of the surrounding states because of sports tourism.

KELLY JONES KAILA, ZAMBIA

Name: Kelly Jones Kaila Town: Lusaka Age: 23 Job: Journalist and manager of Kalim Sports Council

The highlight of the tournament for me was the time when Zambia played Egypt and drew 1 - 1. The low point, when Zambia lost to Cameroon 5- 1.

I watched the games from a nearby bar, because the power at home usually goes off at 5pm.

The Cup was good for Zambia, because it was an opportunity for our players to show their skills and prove that they can play in any league around the world.

It brought a sense of unity to the football fans, because we were all speaking the same language and it made people feel more African, because it was held on African soil, and it gave us a sense of belonging and honour.

ETEOBONG ISAAC AKPAN, NIGERIA

Name: Eteobong Isaac Akpan Town: Calabar, Cross River State Age: 22 Job: Computer instructor

The Nations Cup did bring a sense of unity to Nigeria. For the first time in a long while people could air their views and frustrations without violence. They shared common ideas and listened to one another.

My family felt relieved because they realised that my passion for the game is low compared to some who talked about football during breakfast, lunch and dinner!

I watched most of the matches in the football cinema hall, though I had to catch a few of the games outside my office, being kept cool by a neighbour's fan.

The high point was when the Super Eagles qualified for the quarter finals, while the lowest was when we were knocked out by a 10-man Black Star [Ghana] side in the quarter finals.

The best match was between the indomitable lions of Cameroon and the Pharaohs of Egpyt during the group stage, which Egypt won by 3-1. Honestly, the Egyptians scored wonderful goals in that encounter, and I can not forget the goal and celebration of Zidan - when he removed his football boot and started playing with it in his hands.

The majority of Nigerian fans have now started predicting who will play in the English Premiership, the Italian La Liga and so on - because they know the attention of the whole world was on Ghana, including the attention of agents looking for best football talent.

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Read a selection of your comments on this story:

I am Egyptian. Frankly, I doubted that we would win this time. Our team's performance wasn't the best but there was an internal voice saying that we could do it because we have very talented players and also a brave coach who is Shehata who changed the shape of our team's performance and improved it. Which really made me glad that we were always attacking the others .I really respect Cameron and its team and I think that Cameron's days are coming.
Belal Nabil El-Berry, Cairo Egypt

My house was packed full yesterday with over 25 persons, we were sitting in for our monthly social meeting as we are all having the same alma mater, we hurried with some burning issues of the meting so that we could concentrate in watching the match well, but when Egypt scored us, the Euphoria of the match ended as we all knew it would be difficult for our team to score since it was almost time for the final whistle to be blown. Anyway Cameroon did its utmost best because at the start of the competition we were not among the favourites and most especially when Egypt scored us, but we came out heroically from the competition by being one of the finalists. Egypt is a great team
Bongsha Steve, Yaounde, Cameroon

This I believe has been the best tournament in recent times. All the countries that came showed the potential to win. With better technical staff an African country should win the world cup on African soil or in the next two editions. The Black Stars can do it. The fans that came to Ghana were also great but none surpass the unprecedented number of Ghanaian women who supported the Black Stars in and outside the stadium. Match days were like festive days. At the market, lorry stations, offices and even in parliament the dress code was the same. RED, YELLOW, GREEN. Thumbs up to all the international media for the level of coverage. The BBC stands out. I enjoyed the Diary.
Douglas Quartey, Accra, Ghana

We are the champions for the second time in a row and also we have the record six time champion of Africa Egyptian players proved that we can play outside our land better than inside Yesterday over than 10 million people in Cairo street it was fantastic I really love my country
Mina Rami, Cairo, Egypt

What a fantastic tournament! I managed to get out to Accra with a few friends from London and the Ghanaian's certainly put on a good party and welcomed us with open arms from Accra to Tamale. Back home we are reflecting on of few weeks of great football, new friends and a love for Star beer. Here's a picture of us enjoying the victory over Nigeria!
Paul Scott, Washington, DC

It was really a wonderful time, to gather more than thousands of youths in one place: playing, dancing and having good time, what a wonderful world! I am proud of you Ghana, though you did not win the Cup, but you won our hearts congratulations!
Alassan Jallow, Msaken-Tunisia

I feel the best team won. Egypt played with a lot of passion and skill and they fully deserved to win. Nigeria on the other hand were MAJOR disappointments. The 'big men' players played with no vision whatsoever. It looked to them like they were doing Nigeria a favour by turning up... Terrible.
Chimezie Okonkwo, Lagos, Nigeria

I am ecstatic that my country of Egypt has retained the title, both as a nationalist and as a football fan. But there is something far more important about this tournament. Every two years, it gives us the opportunity to come together as brothers and sisters, people from all across the continent, all Africans together. Our brothers and sisters in Ghana conducted a wonderful tournament, particularly the inspirational closing ceremony. Just as I am proud to be an Arab, the unity and kinship that the African Cup of Nations inspires makes me proud to be an African!
Khalid Sabri, Egyptian in London, U.K.

Interesting how one word reverberated in each text, "unity". Sad how it takes a sport to unite a fragmented country, but hopefully this will show the people of each respective country that instead of looking at the differences of another, to look at the similarities, and that goes for countries too. After all we are all as human as each other
Stephen, Cardiff

Great tournament. It was so refreshing to watch football without the typical dives and time wasting we're used to in Europe. Some great "raquette" goals too!
Xavier, France