Cameroon came from behind to beat Egypt 2-1 and seal a fifth Africa Cup of Nations in a thrilling, edgy final.
Substitute Vincent Aboubakar swept in the winner two minutes from time, flicking the ball over defender Ali Gabr and thumping it home.
Nicolas Nkoulou had earlier equalised for Cameroon, rising highest to power home a header on the hour mark.
The equaliser cancelled out Mohamed Elneny’s opener on 22 minutes with a beautifully taken near-post strike.
Underdogs Cameroon had already upset the odds to reach the final and stunned the much-fancied Egyptians with the late dramatic winner from Aboubaker, after fellow substitute Nkoulou had drawn them level.
The Pharaohs – bidding for an eighth title after seven years in the international wilderness – started comfortably and Elneny’s opening strike capped a wonderful fluent move down the right.
The Gunners midfielder started the move and finished it, after receiving the ball from Mohamed Salah in the box and sweeping it past Fabrice Ondoa into the roof of the net at the near post.
But Egypt invited the Indomitable Lions to come at them in the second half and they paid a heavy price.
The excellent Cameroon forward Benjamin Moukandjo whipped in an excellent menacing cross and substitute Nkoulou muscled his way through the Egyptian defence to beat Ahmed Hegazy to the ball and bury it past 44-year-old Essam El Hadary in the Egyptian goal.
The contest developed into a fascinating final, with Cameroon, inspired by the excellent Christian Bassogog and Jacques Zoua, pinning Egypt back and limiting them to long balls to Salah and substitute Ramadan Sobhi.
Fatigue soon set in in the Egyptian ranks and Cameroon got their reward for increasing the pressure.
Aboubakar picked up the ball at the edge of the box, flicked it over the stranded Gabr, before gathering, taking a step and smashing home off his right foot for a fitting winner.
nice officiating by Baba Juan Sikazwe we’re proud of you
Okay Janny we are proud of you. We’ve make Zambia proud. Is it true he’s been earmarked to officiate at the world cup in Russia?
There was no african coach semifinal. Zimbabwe, senegal and drc coaches were technically exposed..
It is true the African coaches are useless when it comes to make tactical changes or rather reading the game.Even this wada wada of zambia will be a weeping coach soon .
Congratulations to the Indomitabke Lions Of Cameroon. Lets start working hards towards the next Championships to be hosted by Cameroon in 2019.
One thing good about employing a foreign coach has been noted by the whole continent. Cameroon coach drafted in spanish based goalkeeper who sit on the bench for b team.. And he won them afcon.
Evidently with this victory,the Lions are ready to dodge the Chipolopolo (copper bullet) on their way to Russia.
How will Wada wada & his team respond? The African champions are coming & I doubt these will flop like we did post 2012.
Zambian players and a Zambian coach have all had a torrid start to the second half of PSL ABSA league.
Nkausu did not have a spot in the first eleven as his team Freestate stars went down 3-1 to Chiefs
Rodrick Kabwe made his debut for Ajax but they were embarrassingly beaten 5 – 0 by Wits. He played the full 90 minutes not that it helped anything anyway.
Mbesuma did not make the team for highlands as they were also convincingly walloped 3 – 0 by his former team that now goes by the name Cape Town city.
And finally Jacob Sakala also had a bad start to his new coaching job as Baroka went down 2 – 1 to Chippa united. This leaves Jacobs team dead smack at the bottom of the PSL table.
Thanks for the update Big Steve
Sad for our loud mouths Ghana friends,they will never win the cup anytime soon as their crop of good players are about to retire.
YOU DAMNN RIGHT–>BUDDY
GHANA ALWAYS REACH THE SEMI FINALS.
THE BLACK STARS HAVE CONCISTENTLY
REACHED AFCON SEMI AND QUARTERS
FOR EIGHT TIMES;;ONE DAY THE STARS
WILL WIN–(-EMMAAAANUEL-)
–> GOD WITH US <–
I wish you guys win soon, this was the best chance as Ivory coast was down, Zambia(not that we are great), but was not there. Nigeria who is very strong on paper was not there too, but Ghana let this one spill.
Loud mouths indeed, but at least they were there. They are consistent being at Afcon but not winning. We can’t even qualify after our single 2012 win. Let us be realistically objective. They seem better than us. They have been to the world cup a number of times. What about us? Let us stop the unnecessary bashing and do our homework
Zanfoot surely don’t we have soccer news in our own country, such that ” Cameroon are Afcon champions after beating Egypt.” Is the first thing we have seen on our webpage for 8 days now.
Meanwhile, Zanaco locks horns with some team from Uganda & there is no update on our club except Fashion gets back to help the bankers in a match over the week end! SIGH