On Sunday, he gets another chance when he leads four-time winner Cameroon against defending champion Egypt in the final.

In previous attempts, Pfister got closest when Ghana was runner-up in 1992. He hopes his knowledge of Egyptian soccer will help him as he bids to become only the second German coach to win the title.

Winfried Schafer was the first, in 2002 with Cameroon.

"I can bring great players into the game off the bench," Pfister said after substitute Alain Nkong scored to eliminate Ghana in the semifinals. "There is not much difference in the standard between the players."

Pfister twice won the Egyptian league with Zamalek. He also guided Tunisian club CS Sfaxien to its first League Cup in 2003. An under-17 World Cup winner with Ghana in 1991, Pfister led Togo at its maiden World Cup appearance in 2006.

Cameroon was Egypt's opponent when the North Africans took the 1986 title. Cameroon, which has won three the last six meetings, then avenged the defeat at the quarterfinal stage in 1996.

Despite the opening loss, tough-talking Pfister combined tactics and experience to propel Cameroon to the finals.

Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary isn't looking too much into his side's opening win.

"That game doesn't count anymore," said Al Hadari, who made two fine saves to deny Didier Drogba in the semifinal win over Ivory Coast. "We have a lot of respect for Cameroon."

Pfister has also had coaching stints with Saudi Arabia and Bangladeshi national team.

"We played no friendlies before coming here, we had no real tests," said Pfister, who has also had long coaching spells with Rwanda, Senegal and Ivory Coast. "Our opening match against Egypt was my first trial with this team."

The Indomitable Lions will play without Reading defender Andre Bikey, who was sent off in the 1-0 win over Ghana for pushing a medical worker.

Captains Rigobert Song and Ahmed Hassan are both playing in their seventh Africa Cup tournament.

Both sides have used an attack-based strategy to progress. Leading scorer Samuel Eto'o has scored five of Cameroon's 14 goals, while Hosni Abd-Rabou has netted four of Egypt's 14.

Egypt coach Hassan Shehata hopes to grab his second title with Egypt after clinching the 2006 title. He could become the first coach to retain the title in more than 40 years, joining three-time winner Charles Gyamfi, who claimed a double with Ghana in 1965. Gyamfi also led Ghana to its last win in 1982.

"We go into the match as the African champions and we will definitely take care they are well prepared," El-Hadary said.