Egypt wins the African Cup of Nations
Egypt coach Hassan Shehata, center left, and captain Ahmed Hassan, center right, held the cup as the team celebrated their win - Rebecca Blackwell/Associated Press.
Egypt won its record sixth African Cup of Nations title, capturing its second championship in a row with a 1-0 victory over Cameroon in the final Sunday.
Mohamed Aboutreika scored in the 77th minute, converting a cross from Mohamed Zidan for his fourth goal of the tournament.
“It is a great feeling to score for the country,” said Aboutreika, who also netted the winning penalty kick in the 2006 title game, against Ivory Coast. “It’s not about me scoring goals, but it’s about all the players and the 80 million people supporting us back home.”
A crucial error by Rigobert Song, the Cameroon captain, led to Aboutreika’s goal. Song had two chances to clear the ball but became tangled with Zidan and lost the ball. Zidan squared it perfectly and Aboutreika finished powerfully into the bottom right corner.
Realizing his error, Song pulled his shirt into his mouth and pointed to the sky. Goalkeeper Carlos Kameni ran over to comfort him.
Egyptians poured into the streets in Cairo and throughout the country waving flags late Sunday to celebrate the victory. In Cairo’s twin city, Giza, crowds wielding flaming aerosol cans flooded the eight-lane Arab League street and brought traffic to a halt.
Cameroon Coach Otto Pfister would have been the second German to win the African title. He led Ghana to the 1992 final, losing to Ivory Coast. Winfried Schafer won the 2002 title with Cameroon.
In Sunday’s match, Cameroon used Samuel Eto’o as a lone striker and created few chances. Eto’o, a star for Barcelona, failed to score for the third straight match.
Song had an opportunity in injury time but headed a cross by Geremi over the net.
Egypt dominated the second half. Hosni Abd Rabou hit the post with a header from Amr Zaky’s cross in the 62nd minute as Cameroon seemed to tire.
At the final whistle, Egypt’s players rolled on the field and hugged in celebration – AP.