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 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.