A heroic performance from injured Mohamed Abou Gabal in the Egyptian goal sent his country through to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations as he saved two penalties in a dramatic shoot-out.
The seven-time champions will meet Senegal, who beat Burkina Faso 3-1 in the other semi-final, in the final in Yaounde on Sunday.
In an attritional first half where Cameroon were on top, the tournament hosts almost took the lead in the 17th minute through Michael Ngadeu, but his looping header from a corner crashed off the post.
Two minutes later and the Gent defender squandered another glorious opportunity from a corner. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa cleverly flicked the ball into his path at the near post, but the 31-year-old miskicked his shot, coming off his standing leg.
The closest either side came to scoring in the second half was through Cameroon’s Samuel Gouet who fired an audacious 40-yard strike on goal which blasted off the post.
And in the final moments of a scrappy contest before the full-time whistle blew, Egypt boss Carlos Quieroz was shown a second yellow card for his complaints towards the referee Bakary Gassama, much to the annoyance of Mohamed Salah before extra-time commenced.
In the last minute of a extra-time with legs tiring, substitute Ramadan Sobhi fired a dangerous cross from the byline which evaded three Egypt players four yards out from goal before penalties commenced.
Cameroon’s second spot-kick from Harold Moukoudi was comfortably saved by Gabal, who then doubled up by saving James Lea Siliki’s effort.
Clinton N’Jie stepped up to take Cameroon’s fourth to keep the Indomitable Lions in the game, but he fired his penalty harmlessly wide to the delight of the Pharaohs.
TALKING POINT – EGYPT HELD THEIR NERVE
Cameroon had the better chances in a match which had 37 fouls while Egypt had only one shot on target.
Nevertheless, Egypt’s defensive resilience paid off as they continually broke up Cameroon’s momentum and survived a nervy contest.
MAN OF THE MATCH – MOHAMED ABOU GABAL
Gabal, also known as Gabaski, may have feigned injury in the game but it did not stop him from stepping up when it mattered in the shoot-out, making great saves to deny Moukoudi and Siliki.
PLAYER RATINGS
Cameroon: Onana (6), Castelletto (5), Ngadeu (6), Tolo (5), Fai (5), Hongla (5), Anguissa (6), Gouet (6), Ngamaleu (7), Toko Ekambi (6), Aboubakar (5)
Subs: Siliki (5), N’Jie (5), Bassogog (5), Moukoudi (5), J Onana (5)
Egypt: Gabaski (8), Fathi (6), Hamdi (6), Abdelmonem (6), Elneny (5), Kamal (5), El Solia (5), El Fotouh (5), Mostafa Mohamed (5), Salah (5), Marmoush (5)
Subs: Trezeguet (5), Sobhi (6), Ashour (5), Lasheen (5)
KEY MOMENTS
17′ – OFF THE POST! Ngamaleu’s corner is headed on goal by Ngadeu and it loops into the air before crashing off Gabaski’s right post! That’s as close as we have come to a goal so far.
19′ – MISKICK FROM NGADEU! A Cameroon corner swung into the box finds Ngadeu in space and he has a glorious chance to convert from only a few yards out thanks to Anguissa’s clever flick, but he gets his shot all wrong as the ball comes off his standing leg before Egypt clear! That was a golden chance for Cameroon to take the lead!
89′ – QUEIROZ IS SENT OFF! Queiroz has been shown a second yellow and he is fuming! He has to be pulled away by his assistant. He is claiming Sobhi is punched by Tolo but there is little evidence to suggest anyone was punched. He will miss the final or third place play-off.
118′ – BIG CHANCE FOR EGYPT SQUANDERED! Sobhi gets to the byline and fires a ball across with three players there, but he hits it with too much power and it evades everyone! That was wasteful.
Pens – CAMEROON *1-1 EGYPT PENALTY SAVED! Moukoudi goes for a slow run-up and Gabaski dives to his left and makes the save!
Pens – CAMEROON *1-2 EGYPT ANOTHER CAMEROON MISS! Siliki looks for the top corner but Gabaski saves it!
Pens – CAMEROON *1-3 EGYPT N’Jie with the penalty… and he casually fires it well wide!!! EGYPT ARE INTO THE FINAL!
