Egypt retained the African Nations Cup on Sunday after Mohamed Aboutrika's goal secured a narrow final victory over Cameroon.
The Al-Ahly midfielder slotted home the winner 14 minutes from time after Mohamed Zidan capitalised on a Rigobert Song error to give the Pharaohs a record sixth continental title.
It is also a record third crown for captain Ahmed Hassan - the most by any player in the history of the competition.
The North Africans looked sharp from the outset, using their pace and skill to outwit Cameroon, who they beat 4-2 in the opening match of the tournament.
Geremi created the first opening for his side when the Newcastle midfielder played in Samuel Eto'o with a fine cross from the right that was headed over by the Barcelona forward.
Egypt hit back when Hosny Abd Rabou curled a 25-yard free-kick over the wall, but Carlos Kameni was on hand to save low to his left, before Sayed Moawad drew a similar save with his shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Geremi's cross again caused confusion in the Egyptian penalty area after 10 minutes, but goalkeeper Essam El Hadary managed to punch the ball away.
Aboutrika then forced Kameni to dive low and parry away his fizzing 20-yard shot for a corner as the Pharaohs looked sharp on the break.
Otto Pfister's side were dealt a major blow after 15 minutes, when Arsenal's Alexandre Song, who came into the game with an injury, had to be replaced by Gilles Binya.
But the change did not immediately seem to affect them as Geremi's 30-yard free-kick drew a sprawling save from El Hadary to his left.
Another good chance came for Egypt after 19 minutes when Amr Zaky played in Emad Moteab inside the area, but Kameni made another excellent block. The parry fell into the path of Aboutrika, but he blazed over.
The Al-Ahly midfielder again fired over midway through the half after Hany Said's commanding run and cross into the left side of the penalty area.
At the other end, Eto'o controlled the ball 20 yards out and turned well towards the right by-line, before firing across the face of goal.
But Egypt looked threatening on the break and Moteab had a fantastic chance to give them the lead in the 36th minute after being put through by Aboutrika, only for Kameni to pull off another stunning stop from the striker's close-range volley.
Zaky then fired narrowly over from a 30-yard free-kick on the left on the stroke of half-time.
After the restart, Kameni denied Zaky with an excellent save from an acute angle on the left, before somehow managing to keep out Hosny's shot from the edge of the penalty area as Hassan Shehata's team piled on the pressure.
Hosny came closest to breaking the deadlock shortly after the hour mark, when he headed against the upright after a brilliant floated cross from Aboutrika on the right.
After several half-chances and a little bit of play-acting from the Egyptians, they eventually managed to forge ahead after 76 minutes - making the most of Song's error.
Instead of clearing to safety, the Galatasary defender held on and was robbed of possession by Zidan, who slid the ball across to an unmarked Aboutrika to steer the ball home.
Cameroon upped the tempo, but struggled to create any openings until five minutes from time when a cross from the right took a nasty bounce forcing El Hadary to tip over, before Stephane Mbia drew a fine stop from the Egyptian custodian with his close-range shot from the right side of the box.
Song then missed a good chance late on when he headed Geremi's pin-point cross over as the North Africans claimed a hard-fought win.
Source : www.sportinglife.com
