Cameroon wins fifth Africa Cup of Nations, ending fifteen-year wait
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations champions, ending a 15-year wait.
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Written-off before a ball had been kicked, Cameroon produced a stirring second half comeback to beat seven-time champion Egypt in Libreville.
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Talk about super substitutions. A bullet header from Nicolas Nkoulou and stunning solo effort from the lively Vincent Aboubakar turned the game around.
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Egypt had taken the lead midway through the first half, as Mohamed Elneny deceived Fabrice Ondoa at his near post.
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There had only been three goals in the last six Africa Cup of Nations finals, and with Egypt boasting a staunch defensive record, Cameroon had a mountain to climb.
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Egypt's 44-year-old goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary was hoping to win a fifth AFCON trophy -- more than any other player or country -- and had only conceded one goal all tournament.
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Nkoulou, on for the injured Adolphe Teikeu, had other ideas. The center back rose above Ahmed Hegazi in the air, diverting the ball past a helpless El Hadary.
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From then on, only one team looked like winning. Egypt's touches became loose and hesitant, while Cameroon was playing with a surety that belied its relative inexperience.
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And Aboubakar -- deemed unfit to play from the start -- stayed alert as the game approached the closing stages, playfully hooking the ball over Ali Gabr before firing Cameroon into a lead it would not relinquish.