February 11, 2006

Amidst unprecedented turnout, Egypt won the African Cup of Nations ACN for the fifth time, beating Cote d' Ivoire 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw in the final which was played at Cairo stadium.

Goalkeeper Essam Al-Hadary was the hero for the hosts, saving two penalty kicks, while Cote d' Ivoire Captain Di Drogba and Bakary Kone missed theirs.

The match ended 0-0 after 120 minutes, with Drogba missing the Ivorians' best chance in regulation time.

Mohammed Abu-Trika scored the winning penalty for the North Africans.

The first half of the final ACN ended 0-0.

During the half-time, Egypt's Defender Wael Gomaa left the pitch nursing an injury and was replaced by Ahmed Fathi.

Egypt scored a goal 10 minutes before the end of the second half but it was disallowed by the referee as an offside. The decision came after the ball was scrambled over the line after a long-range effort was spilled by the Ivorian Goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizie.

The second half of the final ACN also ended 0-0.

Egypt and Cote d' Ivoire played a 30-minute extra time goalless.

The referee awarded a penalty kick to Egypt four minutes after the beginning of the first half of extra time.

Midfielder Ahmed Hassan shot the ball but it hit the right post.

The two teams shoot penalty kicks to decide who will grab the trophy of the 25th tournament.

Penalty Shoot-out
1-0 Ahmed Hassan puts Egypt ahead.
1-0 Didier Drogba's penalty for Cote d' Ivoire is saved by Essam AI-Hadary.
2-0 Mohamed Abdel-Wahab scores to give Egypt the advantage.
2-1 Kolo Toure scores for Cote d' Ivoire.
2-1 Abdel-Halim Ali puts the ball wide for Egypt.
2-1 Bakary Kone has his penalty saved for Cote d' Ivoire.
3-1 Amr Zaki converts his penalty for Egypt.
3-2 Emmanuel Eboue scores for Cote d' Ivoire.
4-2 Mohamed Aboutrika scores and wins the African Cup of Nations for Egypt.

President Hosni Mubarak, who attended the match along with top Egyptian officials, handed the cup to veteran striker Hossam Hassan.

President Mubarak ordered L.E. 3 million reward for the Egyptian national team after winning the African Cup of Nations for the fifth time in its history.

Statements to this end were made by Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif shortly after the match.