ACCRA, Ghana — Mohamed Aboutraika’s 77th minute goal enabled Egypt to retain the African Nations Cup with a 1-0 victory over Cameroon in the final in Accra on Sunday.
art.aboutraika.gi.jpg

Aboutraika’s 77th minute matchwinner was his seventh goal of the tournament.

It was a record sixth title triumph for Egypt, who punished some uncertain defending by Rigobert Song to score the winner.

As Song dithered trying to clear, the persistent Mohamed Zidan gained possession and steered the ball across the goalmouth to Aboutraika, who slid his shot past Carlos Kameni.

Egypt, the first side to win back-to-back titles twice, were rarely troubled by Cameroon, the team they beat 4-2 in their opening group match in Ghana.

Matchwinner Aboutraika said: “Now we have to make sure that we keep this form going into the World Cup qualifiers.

“It’s one of the greatest days of my life. It’s up there with winning the African Champions League.”

Egypt added the 2008 trophy to their wins in 1957, 1959, 1986 (on penalties against Cameroon), 1998 and 2006 with coach Hassan Shehata joining an exclusive group of just two coaches who have won back-to-back titles.

Shehata had promised that his players could keep the trophy won in Cairo two years ago and his prediction was proved right on a hot and humid night in the Ghana capital.

Cameroon were without suspended defender Andre Bikey, but Alexandre Song, who had been carried off in the semifinal win over Ghana, was declared fit to start.

He lasted only a quarter of an hour before limping off dejectedly to make way for Benfica back Gilles Binya.

Before Song’s exit Hosny Abd Rabou had provided an early threat from Egypt with a 30 meter free kick which flew over the Cameroon defense to test Kameni.

The Cameroon keeper also kept out Emad Moteab’s angled shot but at the other end Egypt skipper Ahmed Hassan did well to deflect Joel Epaule’s shot to safety.

Pharoahs’ keeper Essam al-Hadary, man of the match against Ivory Coast, saved a 30-meter free kick from Geremi and on the counter attack Kameni had to produce an acrobatic dive to keep out Moteab’s dangerous strike.

Eto’o, the competition’s all time top scorer, threatened with a lightning run down the left before Cameroon coach Otto Pfister brought on striker Mohamadou Idrissou for a midfielder, Achille Emana.

Shehata then introduced Hamburg striker Mohamed Zidan in a move that paid rich dividends.

Zidan, who scored twice in Egypt’s earlier win over Cameroon, harried Rigobert Song in the 77th minute and after winning a rough-and-tumble exchange for the ball, sent a controlled pass to the unmarked Aboutraika who had a simple task to score.

It was the Al Ahly midfielder’s fourth goal, and it set up a fraught final quarter of an hour as Cameroon frantically tried to get back into it but the defending champions held on to take the continental cup back to Cairo.

The victory sparked off scenes of elation in Egypt.

Girls wearing the Egyptian flag instead of the veil danced among tens of thousands in the streets of Cairo on Sunday night.

Crowds of people wearing the national flag colours of red, black and white erupted with screams of joy as the final whistle blew, some lighting handheld fireworks, others crying tears of relief.

“Finally something joyous happens to us, finally something happy happens to us,” said Mohammed Said, sporting an Egyptian flag instead of his traditional galabaya robe.

He had watched with many others on giant television screens on the central Midan Mustafa Mahmud square.

“With the government we have, everything is sad, the prices, the boats sink and trains crash, this is the only thing that gives us joy.”

Policemen forming part of the heavy security presence on the huge square danced and hugged their countrymen, crying the name of the final’s only goal-scorer, local Giza native “Mohamed Aboutraika — Goal!”

Supporters young and old carried aloft posters of Aboutrika alongside goalkeeper Essam al-Hadary, known locally as “The Wall.”

“It’s one of the rare occasions when there are no Muslims and Copts and we are only Egyptians,” said Coptic Christian Adel Zaki. “We feel united and it is the only thing we celebrate together.”

All public transport was free as thousands headed towards the square. Buses inched through the crowd, rooftops overflowing with people and flags.

“Aboutraika you are the master,” the crowd chanted, “You made the net sing your praises.” E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend