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 

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.

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

Cameroon needed extra-time to close out a 3-2 win over Tunisia and book a Cup of Nations semi-final berth against Ghana in Tamale this evening.

A Stephane Mbia double started and finished the scoring in an absorbing contest where both sides tussled for the momentum.

Cameroon appeared to have blown a 2-0 lead as Yassine Chikhaoui put Tunisia on level terms with nine minutes of regular time remaining, but just two minutes into extra-time the Indomitable Lions found the match-winner.  

Tunisia's lapse-prone defence was caught flat-footed for Mbia's second strike as the Cameroonian swept home two flick-ons from a long throw.

Despite a host of half-chances in the remaining 28 minutes, the Carthage Eagles could not find a way through and force a penalty shoot-out.

Mbia opened the scoring on 19 minutes for Cameroon with a bundled header after arriving unmarked at the back post to nod home an Alexandre Song cross.

Geremi then doubled the advantage with a low free kick to the left of the goal, out of reach for Tunisian keeper Hamdi Kasraoui.

But Tunisia replied in the 35th minute with Chouki Ben Saada perfectly placing a set-piece of his own into Carlos Idriss Kameni's net.

It could so easily have been scores level at half-time as Kameni was forced to save a follow-up shot after Francileudo Dos Santos hit the post.

As the second half drew on Tunisia played more and more on top of Cameroon and made the momentum count with Chikhaoui's equaliser.

The tall striker put in a neat finish after embattled Cameroonian defender Timothee Atouba was caught in possession.

But a furious Rigobert Song managed to hold together his backline after Mbia's go-ahead goal, the captain and Cameroon players now with the even bigger challenge of Ghana in the semi-final.

Cameroon buried Sudan 3-0 in Tamale tonight to seal progression to the quarter-final of the African Cup of Nations.

Samuel Eto’o scored two goals in the rout to stand alone as the highest scorer in the competition’s history.

Sudan rarely made a forward foray and looked every part the team that leaves Ghana as the only one without having scored.

After just two minutes the pattern of the game was determined as Joesph Desire Job and Eto’o peppered Sudan goalkeeper Elmuiz Abdalla who made two miracle saves to keep the Indomitable Lions at bay.

But in the 26th minute Achille Emana drew a penalty from Alla Eldin Yousif Hado and Eto’o duly converted.

The penalty, Eto’o’s third of the tournament in as many games, gave the 26-year-old the record of leading scorer in Cup of Nations football overtaking Laurent Pokou of Ivory Coast.

The scoring was not finished with a comical own-goal before half-time giving Cameroon an unassailable lead.

Hamouda El Bashir, marking Eto’o, cleared a ball straight into Mohamed Ali Elkhidir and the rebound bounced into the net.

In the second half Sudan’s best chance of scoring came when an ambitious shot on the turn from Faisal Agab Sido required a save from Cameroon keeper Carlos Idriss Kameni.

But it was as close as the Sudanese came, Eto’o scoring his second of the match and fifth for the tournament in stoppage time as he finished clinically on a quick counter-attack.

In the other Group C game Christopher Katongo grabbed a late equaliser for Zambia in its 1-1 draw with Egypt.

Amr Zaki opened the scoring on 15 minutes but Katongo’s 88th minute goal gave Zambia a share of the points.

However it needed to win and pick up goal difference to boot to stand any chance of progressing.

The Pharaohs took it easy with none of its players booked in the match. Egypt tops the group with seven points, Cameroon second with six.

Barring lop-sided wins in both of tomorrow’s Group D matches, the pair will play one of Angola or Tunisia in the quarter-final.

Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o is now just a goal away from outright first on the all-time record scorers list in the African Cup of Nations.

Having started Ghana 2008 on 11 goals, level with fellow Cameroon legend Patrick Mboma, Eto'o's three goals gives him a share of top place with Ivorian legend Laurent Pokou.

Two of Eto'o's three goals at this year's tournament have come from penalties where the goalkeeper has guessed the right way.

But it's hard to fault a penalty that scores, regardless of how close the goalkeeper comes to saving it.

On penalty-taking duties and with at least one more match to come against Sudan it's difficult not to see Eto'o taking outright leadership of the scoring table.

To hold the record for a sustained period Eto'o, 26, will need to keep scoring regularly for his country given the Cup of Nations is held every two years.

But having risen to the top in the prime of his football career, should Eto'o decide to represent Cameroon into his veteran years it is not hard to see his goal tally passing 30.

Of the active players anywhere near Eto'o only Tunisian Francileudo Dos Santos could harbour any possible hope of catching the Cameroonian. 

Dos Santos has eight goals to his Cup of Nations tally, so at this stage it seems only the stars of the future have any chance of ever matching Eto'o.

Cup of Nations all-time top scorers

14 - Laurent Pokou (CIV), Samuel Eto'o (CAM)
13 - Rashidi Yekini (NIG)
12 - Hassan El-Shazly (EGY)
11 - Patrick Mboma (CAM), Hossam Hassan (EGY)
10 - Mengitsu Worku (ETH), Joel Tiéhi (CIV), Mulamba Ndaye (for then Zaire), Kalusha Bwalya (ZAM)
9 - Abdoulaye Traore (CIV)
8 - Francileudo Dos Santos (TUN), Wilberfoce Kwadwo Mfum (GHA)