Egypt defeat Cameroon in penalties, cruise to final

After a goalless draw, the Egypt edged past hosts Cameroon in a penalty shootout to book a final against Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The semi-final game ended in 3-1 in favour of Egypt.

Goalkeeper Gabaski saved two penalties for Egypt.

The final which comes up on Sunday will witness a clash between Liverpool forwards Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Sadio Mane of Senegal at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, the Cameroon’s capital.

Hosts Cameroon had shown more impetus in 90 minutes, twice hitting the post through Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui’s looping header and Samuel Gouet’s thunderous long-range strike, which flicked the woodwork.

Egypt’s star man Salah was kept quiet for much of the game, curling a strike from outside the area narrowly over and almost profiting from a loose back pass, but he could not convert.

But he did not have to step up in the shootout as Cameroon missed three of their efforts, with Gabaski saving from Harold Moukoudi and James Lea Siliki, while Clinton N’Jie side-footed wide.

An ill-tempered Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz was sent off for remonstrating with the referee while his assistant Wael Gomaa was cautioned too.

Two of them will be missing from the touchline for the final as Gomaa was also yellow carded in the quarter-final against Morocco.

Meanwhile, Cameroon will face Burkina Faso in the third/fourth-place play-off, which has been brought forward a day to Saturday.

TheStar