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Egypt earn clash with Cameroon

Egypt's Amr Zaky reacts after missing a scoring opportunity against the Ivory Coast in their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final match in Kumasi, Ghana, on Thursday. PHOTO: AP

Egypt won their 2006 championship rematch with Ivory Coast on Thursday and returned to the African Cup of Nations final, where they will face Cameroon in a game pitting two of the continent's most successful countries.

Amr Zaki scored twice for Egypt, who beat Ivory Coast 4-1, while Alain Nkong scored midway through the second half to give Cameroon a 1-0 victory over hosts and four-time winners Ghana.

"Today we were in good form and we showed why we should be playing in the finals again," Egypt assistant coach Shawki Gharib said.

Egypt will try to add to their record six African Cup titles while Cameroon will play for a fifth, making the final for the first time since 2002.

Ahmed Fathi put Egypt in front after 12 minutes off a powerful shot from the edge of the area and Zaki headed Ahmed Hassan's cross to double the lead in the 62nd.

Lyon winger Abdulkader Keita used a solo effort to pull Ivory Coast back to 2-1 in the 63rd, but Zaki added a goal in the 67th before Mohamed Zidan set up Mohamed Aboutreika, who beat substitute goalkeeper Stephan Loboue from 5m in the 90th.

Tomorrow's championship game will be a rematch of the first-round encounter in which Egypt beat Cameroon 4-2.

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose," said Cameroon coach Otto Pfister, who led Ghana to the 1992 African Cup title match. "Cameroon has the best bench in the tournament. There's no difference between each player."

Ghana and Ivory Coast will play for third place today.

At Accra, Ghana started well, but Eric Addo failed to convert Sulley Muntari's free kick in the fifth. Cameroon then took control.

Newcastle midfielder Geremi tried his luck from 40m with a free kick but the ball dipped to hit the bar in the 40th.

Cameroon finished with 10 men when defender Andre Bikey was ejected in injury time for pushing a medical worker.

At Kumasi, Egypt employed a dominant, attack-minded play to frustrate Ivory Coast's big-name stars.

Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary thwarted Didier Drogba during a 35th-minute scramble in the penalty area. He also twice provided dramatic saves to stop Drogba headers in the 45th and 48th.

"I am disappointed by the scoreline," Drogba said. "It just wasn't our day."

Egypt capitalized when Ivory Coast were forced to insert Loboue, who entered the game in the 39th minute when Boubacar Barry appeared to suffer a thigh injury.

Ghana were without suspended captain John Mensah, forcing the Black Stars to move midfielder Michael Essien into the center of their defense.

"Cameroon gave us a very difficult game because Mensah was suspended," Ghana coach Claude Le Roy said. "I thought we were ready to win and get to the final. It is a big disappointment for us and all the fans."

Le Roy helped Cameroon win the 1988 championship.
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