After fears the stadium may only be three-quarters full at Ohene Djan for tonight's Cup of Nations final the host city came out in force.

While kick-off remained notoriously under-attended by half-time a festive, if dispassionate majority of neutrals had made their way into the ground.

Cameroon had barely a small pocket of fans and created little noise for their team, while Egypt's bevy of fans failed to produce the consistent raucous noise other sides at these championships had offered.

At kick-off a lone Reading banner flew briefly in the crowd in memory of Andre Bikey, but soon disappeared from view.

The finale came on the hottest day in Accra since the start of the tournament, with the open sewers in the streets evaporating into the air and emitting an unpleasant odour visitors had largely been spared until now.

Referee Codjia Koffi of Benin must have thought the crowd had come to watch him tonight, his petulant display ranging from hurrying up the Egypt pre-match huddle with an impatient blow of the whistle, to arrogant thrusts and gestures whenever free-kicks or cards were awarded.

There was some irony in Cameroon coach Otto Pfister berating Koffi for not consulting his watch when the clock was wound-down by the Egyptian team - at least this time the crowd was shown how much stoppage remained by the fourth official.

But fortunately Koffi and his assistants failed to steal the show, as Egypt's raw passion and emotion both after Mohamed Aboutreika's winning goal and upon receiving the trophy was a perfect celebration.

Of course, the Confederation of African Football had to play spoiler, an irate woman chastising Egyptian players for their impromptu dancing alongside drummers in the post-match ceremony because it may interfere with official proceedings.

It was a typically regimented and over-officiated way to end the tournament on CAF's behalf, in an event where the outside world, feeding largely off television coverage and the BBC, would have no idea what a shambles it was behind the scenes.

And behind the scenes the Egyptians seemed tired and partied out, even snubbing their arabic-speaking media who had followed them from day one as players, coaches and cup dashed to the team bus.

With the exception of the odd word in French, Cameroon was much the same - with Otto Pfister's grin one of sickness tonight than superiority.

Still, the tournament ended on a high note - the best team won and deserved to win - and regardless of what had gone before, nobody can begrude Egypt its moment of victory in Ghana.

True glory goes to its loyal legions of travelling fans - one big group and the odd small huddle singing, celebrating and cheering for their team.

Egypt is champion of Africa again after defending its title with a 1-0 win over Cameroon in the final at Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra tonight.

A goal deep into the second half from Mohamed Aboutreika was the difference as Egypt dominated its West-African opponent from start to finish to win the African Cup of Nations.

But it took a horrifying error from Cameroon captain and semi-final hero Rigobert Song to open the door for the Pharaohs which Indomitable Lions goalkeeper Carlos Idriss Kameni had previously kept shut with a string of fantastic saves.

In the 77th minute Song’s inability to control a long ball into the Cameroon half saw substitute Mohamed Zidan steal in to get a foot on the ball.

After winning a wrestle with Song inside the penalty area the Egyptian squared for Aboutreika who was left with a one-on-one finish against Kameni and duly slotted home.

The Egyptian bench exploded onto the team as the regular goal-scoring celebration of kneeling to prayer, then hands to the heavens ensued.

Cameroon were sparked by going behind but only managed to force one significant attempt on the target to trouble a flawless game from Esam El Hadary in the Egypt goal.

El Hadary saved from Stephane Mbia with a one-handed stop then watched Song head over the bar in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Cameroon threw everything forward.

Victory gives Egypt coach Hassan Shehata the status as one of only two coaches to have ever defended the Cup of Nations title successfully.

Egypt’s sixth trophy was well deserved as it peppered Kameni in the first half before controlling the balance of play in the second.

Confederation of African Football player of the tournament Hosny Abd Rabou hit the post with a diving header in the second half and followed it up with a rasping long-shot tipped around the post by Kameni soon after.

Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o was awarded the golden boot after the match despite being frozen out completely after a brilliant defensive effort from Egypt’s backline, Hany Said leading the way with a number of interceptions and crunching tackles.

Cameroon coach Otto Pfister was hamstrung by Alex Song's inability to run off an injury sustained in training and found himself out of substitutes early in the second half.  

Teo Pellizzeri, Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra

*Keep track of OleOle.com for more reaction to the Cup of Nations finale as well as unique pictures from the ground 

OleOle dreamteam: Ghana 2008

3-5-2, Manager: Hassan Shehata (Egypt) 

GK: Carlos Idriss Kameni (Cameroon)

DEF: Arthur Boka (Ivory Coast) - Hany Said (Egypt) - Geremi (Cameroon)

MID: Bonaventure Kalou (Ivory Coast - Michael Essien (Ghana) - Hosny Abd Rabou (Egypt) - Sulley Ali Muntari (Ghana) - Mohamed Aboutreika (Egypt)

ATT: Manucho (Angola) - Amr Zaki (Egypt)

Subs: Essam Al-Hadary (Egypt), Rui Marques (Angola), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Alexandre Song (Cameroon)

The coach

Quiet, but supremely confident, Shehata's team defended its crown with free-flowing play and plenty of goals.
A disregard for negativity swept this Cup of Nations in general and Egypt was no exception as its competant defence was made to look immaculate by a prolific forward line.
After the opening match one would have assumed Mohamed Zidan would have been a permanent fixture in the team, yet Shehata's intimate knowledge of his side saw him trust Amr Zaki as the man to score the goals and lead the line.
But it's not all roses for Shehata, a failure to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa will not just see Egypt pass two decades without having participated at football's showpiece event, it will see their current generation labelled one of the best African teams never to play in a World Cup.

The goalkeeper

With the two best 'keepers meeting in the final the feeling was top gong would go to the one from the winning team. But it was Kameni and nobody else that was the difference between a narrow Egypt win and a hammering in the showpiece game. To El-Hadary's credit he did tip out a few decent chances of his own, but had a far more impressive defence in front of him with Said and Gomaa. Bouna Coundoul can lay claim to the best cameo - his acrobatic display against South Africa will have Tony Sylva working hard to keep his starters role in the Senegal team.

The backline

Siaka Tiene displaced Boka twice in this Cup of Nations but the small-statured defender offered the Ivorians plenty down the left side. Said dominated in the final for Egypt and would have been paired with Rigobert Song in a 4-4-2 if not for Song's costly error. Geremi was Cameroon's shining light in the group stages but did fade as the tournament progressed in a bad competition for wide defenders. Song's two games against Egypt keep him out of this team altogether, even though he was present in the CAF side. Rui Marques did his reputation no harm martialling the Angola backline.

The midfield

Kalou was dynamite against Nigeria and Benin and appears to have made a good choice after missing the 2006 World Cup in hope of one day representing Holland instead. Essien and Muntari made up for a highly inefficient Ghana forward line with goals on top of their regular duties, while Aboutreika dominated and was duly rewarded for his goal-scoring form with man-of-the-match and the glory of the final winner.

The forward line

Manucho is the obvious choice after not just the quantity, but quality of his goals. Despite not scoring in the final it was Zaki who was prolific for Egypt. Eto'o may have become top scorer of all time and also won the golden boot but three of his goals were from the penalty spot. That and the fact he failed to get close to scoring in the knock-out stages of the tournament.

Ghana took out the African Cup of Nations third-place playoff in Kumasi tonight with a 4-2 win over Ivory Coast.

Victory marked a positive end to Ghana's home tournament while the leaky defence that cost Ivory Coast a chance at the final reared its ugly head again.

But it took a come-from-behind effort on Ghana's part to win the match after trailing 2-1 at half time.

Second half goals from Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Junior Agogo and Haminu Draman saw Ghana streak to victory after a Boubacar Sanogo double had cancelled out Sulley Ali Muntari's first-half free kick.

With an injury to goalkeeper Boubacar Barry and recovering Kolo Toure rested from the match Ivory Coast displayed the defensive frailties which saw it beaten 4-1 by Egypt in the semi-final round.

With Ghana coach Claude Le Roy set to stay in charge for the Black Stars' 2010 World Cup Qualifying campaign, victory in front of the home fans will see his and the team's tournament end on a positive note.

Cameroon defender Bikey who suffered a now-famous brain snap and was sent off for pushing a medico will miss the African Cup of Nations final.

The BBC speculated today Bikey's motivation for the moment of madness was unhappiness at how quickly his captain Rigobert Song was being loaded onto a stretcher.

In coaching circles Henri Michel's time at Morocco is, as expected, over, after he was given his marching orders yesterday.

While nothing has been officially declared on the future of Nigeria coach Berti Vogts the quality of applicants might have him out the door, with fellow German national Lothar Matthaus throwing his hat in the ring.

Egypt will defend its African Cup of Nations title in the championship game after routing Ivory Coast 4-1 in Kumasi tonight.

Two goals from in-form striker Amr Zaki sealed victory for Egypt after with Abdulkader Keita's goal in between offering a glimmer of hope to the Elephants. 

Zaki's first goal appeared to close the door on Ivory Coast in the 62nd minute before Keita struck back almost immediately.

But within five minutes Zaki produced a sweet strike of his own to restore Egypt's two-goal cushion.

Mohamed Aboutreika iced the win with a goal in stoppage time, while it was Ahmed Fathi who opened the scoring for Egypt and gave it a 1-0 half time lead.

Ivory Coast endured a miserable night with goalkeeper Boubacar Barry leaving the game injured and Kolo Toure, rushed back from injury, well off his game.

After disrupting what had been a flawless centre-back paring of Didier Zokora and Marc Zoro, it was the latter who made way for Toure.

Ivory Coast now go to the game most of the experts predicted would be the final, but is instead a third-place playoff with Ghana in Kumasi on Saturday.

Egypt now defends its crown against Cameroon in Accra on Sunday.  

Cameroon striker Joseph Desire Job has backed his teammates to lift the African Cup of Nations trophy after its surprise 1-0 win over Ghana in Accra tonight.

While strike partner Samuel Eto'o shunned the media after the match, Job was happy to reminisce on his team's fighting win.

The striker was substituted in the second half and with bench-player Alain Nkong scoring the winning goal is at some risk of losing his place for Sunday's final.

But Job said it was the team and not individuals who had carried the Indomitable Lions to the final hurdle.

"We are delighted to have got this win," he said.

"It's special to beat the hosts because you have a whole country against you.

"But we're used to that."

Job said under adversity was where Cameroon played its best and it would deal with the suspension of defender Andre Bikey.

"We're lions, when everybody thinks the lion is weak he is just limping," Job said.

"Cameroon is not about one player.

"The same way it was not be but someone else who scored the goal.

"We bounced back after losing to Egypt and we have won a difficult quarter-final."

Despite the Ohene Djan Stadium's pitch coming in for some criticism during the tournament Job said he had no concerns after Cameroon's first match in the main arena.

"It was a wonderful pitch and wonderful surface," he said.

"But we are not focused on that, we are focused on the next win."

Ghana coach Claude Le Roy has stopped short of blaming the referee for his team's semi-final exit from the African Cup of Nations.

After a night of frustration on the sidelines with Moroccan referee Abderahim El Arjoune, Le Roy said preparation had also been part of the Black Stars' downfall.

Ghana lost midfielder Laryea Kingston 10 minutes before kick-off to injury with Andre Ayew his last minute replacement.

Le Roy said with John Mensah already missing through suspension his team's plans were thrown into disarray.

"We tried to win the game but they had one chance and they scored," Le Roy said.

"I saw the footage and I think there should have been a penalty for us."

Le Roy held back in his criticism of El Arjoune.

"I do not like to think about the referee but we cannot say it was a good referee today," he said.

"I respect that Cameroon won and congratulate them for their win."

Le Roy said he did not regret going public with his belief that his side had been afforded no home-ground advantage at the Cup of Nations.

"It's good for football that there were not home advantages like you have in other countries.

"But I think this was a little bit more than no home advantage unfortuantely."

In response to Pfister's comments about the Ghanaian media, Le Roy said they were just doing their job.

"In Africa it is quite something to be a football player with the media," he said.

Ghana had been left a legacy of vastly improved stadia and training facilities according to Le Roy.

"The team has great spirit but they know there is work to do with a World Cup to prepare for."

The 60-year-old was not prepared to speculate about his future as head coach of the Ghana team.

Jubilant Cameroon coach Otto Pfister could not help but criticise Ghana's assumptive media as he left Ohene Djan Stadium tonight.

Casually striding the press area in jeans, Pfister talked the talk after his Indomitable Lions walked the walk with a 1-0 win to eliminate host Ghana.

Pfister claimed his side was not shown respect by Ghana's adoring media contingent.

"They said the Ghana team was the best in the world!" Pfister said.

"But you have to play football before you win the cup.

"I always show my opponents respect.

"There was too much pressure on [Ghana's] boys."

Pfister said the hero-status of Michael Essien in particular would have had mental ramifications in the Black Stars' camp.

"If everybody always says Essien is a champion then one day he believes it.

"If you always say to a boy 'this is batman, this is batman' then he believes it.

"I see the television stations always saying 'we are the champion' before the game."

Pfister said his team had played normally and followed his tactics perfectly.

"I think we played slower today and showed good fitness," he said.

Man-of-the-match Alex Song played in central midfield and was in for special praise from his coach.

"Alexandre Song, the way he plays is amazing," Pfister said.

"For me he is a wonder."

Cameroon has stunned host Ghana by advancing to the African Cup of Nations final with a 1-0 win at Ohene Djan stadium in Accra tonight.

Substitute Alain Nkong scored the only goal of the match as the Indomitable Lions sent the Black Stars' fans home silent.

Ghana will feel aggrieved with the performance of Moroccan referee Abderahim El Arjoune as it lost out in a number of crucial decisions.

But Cameroon will take its own concerns into the Cup of Nations final after defender Andre Bikey was inexplicably sent-off.

Nkong's second-half strike came with just over 20 minutes remaining in the contest, off the back of Ghana's most dominant period in the match.

After a string of free kicks and corners it was a save from goalkeeper Carlos Idriss Kameni that launched a lightning counter-attack.

Kameni fed left-back Timothee Atouba the ball, who found striker Samuel Eto'o in the attacking half.

Eto'o then fed through Nkong, who sprinted into the Ghanaian penalty area and finished one-on-one against Richard Kingson with a clinical strike.

Ghana's best chance to equalise came in the 81st minute when Junior Agogo narrowly headed over a free kick from Sulley Ali Muntari.

Despite being reduced to 10 men in stoppage time Cameroon held out for victory.

After failing to police egregious time wasting from the Cameroonian team, referee El Arjoune did not tolerant a moment of madness from Bikey.

With a convoy of medicos on the field to attend to Rigobert Song, Bikey was given his marching orders for pushing one of the staffers.

Bikey reacted with disgust to the red card, the Accra crowd attempting to hit him with bottles as he left the field.

But it was Ghana who largely got the wrong end of 50-50 foul calls and were not shown how much stoppage time would be played.

Coaches Claude Le Roy of Ghana and Otto Pfister of Cameroon were furious on the sidelines as the fourth official refused to raise his board.

Despite Cameroon milking the best part of 10 minutes off the clock in the second half, barely 4 additional minutes were played after the 90 was complete.

But with time expired it was Cameroon who is through to the final, while Ghana's tour of duty now takes them to Kumasi for the third-place play-off.

Teo Pellizzeri, Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra