The Pharaohs of Egypt have qualified for the final of the Africa Cup of Nations after defeating the hosts, Cameroon 3-1 on penalties. Full and extra time had ended goalless.
The match, which was a repeat of the 2017 final, saw the competition’s highest goal scorer and Cameroon skipper, Vincent Aboubakar and one of the most prolific Africa’s export to Europe, Mohamed Salah, unable to find the back of the net.
Vincent Aboubakar took the first penalty kick and scored. Zizo took the Jurginho of Chelsea style of penalty and scored for Egypt.
The second Cameroon’s kick was taken by a late substitute, Harold Moukoudi, but Gabaski in goal for Egypt saved it.
Mohamed Abdelmonem stepped up for Egypt’s second kick fully aware that if he scores, the Pharaohs will take the lead. Indeed he scored sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Cameroon needed to find a way back as the score line was 2-1 in favor of the North Africans. It fell on James Lea Siliki. Gabaski in goal for Egypt saved Siliki’s penalty kick.
Mohamed Lasheen made it 3-1 for Egypt sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
With two penalties left and Cameroon trailing by two goals, they must score their two penalties and hope that Egypt equally fail to score their own two penalties to take the shootout to Sudden Death.
Clinton N’Jie, former Tottenham Hotspur player stepped for Cameroon’s fourth kick. Though he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, he could not find the back of the net. N’Jie lost the penalty as Cameroon lost the chance to face Senegal in the final.
Cameroon will take on Burkina Faso in the third placed match on Saturday while the grand finale on Sunday will see the Teranga Lions of Senegal take on the Pharaohs of Egypt.
