2003: Europe enjoy Egyptian experience
Thursday 1 January 2009
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Spain's Jonathan Soriano struck six goals at the 2003 UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup (©Getty Images)
The fourth UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup was held in Egypt in 2003 and was the second edition to pit four European teams, in this case Spain, France, England and Switzerland, against their African counterparts – the hosts, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Mali – in a round-robin event. As in Italy two years earlier, it was Europe who came out on top overall.
Rising stars
Since its inaugural edition in 1997, the UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup had established a reputation as a showcase for some of the game's most promising young stars and the 2003 event proved to be no exception with John Mikel Obi, Ronald Zubar, Jimmy Briand, Valon Behrami and Roberto Soldado among those involved. Briand made an eye-catching start, scoring two goals including a late winner as France twice came from behind to beat Nigeria 3-2 in Ismailia in the first round of matches, although it was Spain striker Jonathan Soriano who took most of the headlines on the opening day with three goals in his side's 6-1 defeat of Mali. Slavisa Dugic scored both Switzerland's goals in the 2-0 win against the hosts Egypt, while David Raven's goal deep into added time gave England a 3-2 victory against Burkina Faso, who looked to have earned a point through Mohamed Kinda's 89th-minute penalty.
Notable draws
Having suffered four losses on Matchday 1 the African quartet came out fighting two days later, Nigeria holding out with ten men for more than an hour to earn a goalless draw with Switzerland to typify that battling spirit. There were also 1-1 draws for Egypt and Mali, the latter snatching a point against England thanks to Falaye Kante's 80th-minute equaliser while the hosts left it even later against France, Hossam Nasr finding the net with five minutes to go in Port Said. Spain denied Africa an unbeaten round of fixtures, Jaime Gavilán on target in a 2-0 win against Burkina Faso and adding two more in a 5-0 defeat of Nigeria on Matchday 3, Jonathan scoring another double to take his tally to six goals in three matches. Burkina Faso held out for a 1-1 draw with Switzerland while England and France edged out Egypt and Mali 1-0 and 2-1 respectively.
Perfect record
Spain ensured they finished the competition with maximum points by ending with a 3-0 defeat of Egypt in Ismailia, although there was more success for Africa as Nigeria and Burkina Faso stood fast for goalless draws with England and France respectively. Mali nearly made it three draws, only for Dugic to score Switzerland's winner and ensure Europe retained the trophy they had first won in 2001, finishing with 36 points to Africa's total of six. The competition also included a Gala match, played in Cairo between the senior teams of Al-Ahly and AFC Ajax and appropriately it was an Egyptian who scored what proved to be the decisive goal, Mido getting Ajax's second in a 2-1 victory.
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