A cut above the rest

By Farayi Mungazi
BBC Sport, Port Said

Togo's Yao Aziawonou shows off his patriotic hair

Forget the football. There is a lot more to the African Nations Cup finals than goals, free-kicks and red cards.

The tournament is also a showcase for haircuts, as players from all 16 teams use their hairstyles to express themselves on and off the pitch.

It is nigh on impossible to watch a game without getting your attention drawn away from the action by some eye-catching or dubious hairdo.

For young fans around the continent, who worship their favourite stars to the point of imitating their hairstyles, Egypt 2006 offers a range of styles.

From the trademark locks of Cameroon captain Rigobert Song to the cornrows of Nigeria's Wilson Oruma, there is no shortage of hairstyles to make the head turn.

Photo gallery: Haircuts from Egypt

In fact, it is debatable whether any of the salons in Egypt could cope with the range of hairstyles on parade at this Nations Cup.

That said, it is a matter of conjecture whether hair-conscious fans have warmed up to the dodgy-looking perm of Tunisia's Radhi Jaidi.

As with most things in life, there are also extremes in the hair business. One only has to look at Togo's Yao Aziawonou, whose locks have been dyed in the colours of his country's flag.

It is the sort of hairstyle which may make it to the patriotism charts, but will not cut the mustard in the fashion stakes.

Didier Drogba uses an alice band to keep his flowing locks in place

Others, like Ghana captain Stephen Appiah and Pape Bouba Diop of Senegal, have as much hair on their heads as a boiled egg.

The shaven scalp was of course made popular by basketball legend, Michael Jordan, whose "skinhead" was a phenomenon all on its own.

Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha is one of many players who have had their hair braided while Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Adebayor look like they consulted the same hair stylist with their Alice bands.

South African skipper Sibusiso Zuma's familiar peroxide blond has been around for a while and is one of the most distinguishable hairstyles in African football.

Tunisian Riadh Bouazizi sports a mullet that conjures up images, of among other things, a 1970s glam rock pop star.

Dreadlocks, made "cool" by Dutch legend Ruud Gullit, are omnipresent at this Nations Cup, with Rigobert Song, Zimbabwe goalkeeper Gift Muzadzi and Ghana's Laryea Kingston among those sporting them.

One could argue that Jean Makoun does not need a Spiky hairstyle to be noticed because his ability on the pitch provides him with enough attention.

But that has not stopped the Cameroonian international from giving himself the appearance of a Scandinavian Viking.

There is one hairstyle so outrageous that I can only look upon it and despair. The cut in question? None other than Yao Senaya's bizarre blond patch at the top of his sides-shaven head.

Everyone has a bad hair day at some time but it is difficult to imagine what Senaya was thinking when he decided to unleash this haircut on an unsuspecting public.

It may be his way of standing out but Senaya's cut, and many others at Egypt 2006, will be hair today and gone tomorrow.