Vincent Aboubakar
came off the bench to score a stunning winner with two minutes left as Cameroon
fought back from behind to beat Egypt 2-1 in a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations
final on Sunday.
Arsenal
midfielder Mohamed Elneny had given Egypt the lead midway through the first
half and Egypt looked to be on course to win an unrivalled eighth Cup of
Nations crown in their first appearance at the tournament since 2010.
But Nicolas
Nkoulou, who had come off the bench in the first half, headed in the equaliser
just before the hour mark and his fellow substitute Aboubakar slammed in the
winner in the 88th minute.
That sparked
bedlam in a near-capacity crowd of more than 38,000 in Gabon’s capital, made up
in its majority by Cameroonian supporters.
It is a
fifth Cup of Nations crown for the Indomitable Lions, a first since 2002, and
the first time they have beaten Egypt in the final in three attempts.
Egypt fell
just short on their return to the competition after a seven-year absence, and
the defeat will be especially painful for their coach Hector Cuper.
The
Argentine was desperate to win a trophy after a career tainted by rotten luck
in finals at club level, including back-to-back defeats in the UEFA Champions
League with Valencia at the start of the last decade.
(Naijaloaded)
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