Defending MTN Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt kicked off the defence of their crown with an emphatic 4-2 victory over Group C rivals Cameroon in Kumasi on Tuesday.


The Pharaohs surged into a 3-0 half time lead thanks to a penalty from Hosni Abd Rabou and a superb brace from Hamburg SV striker Mohamed Zidan.


Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o ignited hope of a comeback from the four time African champions with a header five minutes after the break but when Abd Rabou scored his second with less than ten minutes to play, Egypt knew they had secured all three points.

Eto’o added another

Follow up:

Too hot to handle: Egypt's Mohamed Zidan celebrates his goal by taking off his boot

©Photo: Carl Fourie/MTNfootball.com


consolation for the Indomitable Lions with an injury time penalty.


The title holders took a 14th minute lead when Abd Rabou’s attemped chip struck Andre Bikey on the hand and referee Modou Sowe pointed to the spot. The Ismaily midfielder converted the penalty at the second attempt after his first was scratched off by the official.


Three minutes later Egypt doubled their lead with a lightning quick counter attack that saw Zidan exchange passes with Emad Moteab before stroking the ball beyond Idriss Carlos Kameni in the Cameroon goal.


The striker completed his brace with a stunning goal in first half injury time, picking up Rigobert Song’s poor defensive header before smashing the ball into the top corner from 20 metres out.


Eto’o flicked home Geremi Njitap’s cross in the 51st minute to give the shellshocked Indomitable Lions a glimer of hope but Abd Rabou ended any thoughts of a comeback with a powerful long range drive that found the bottom corner of the net in the 82nd minute.


Eto’o was fortunate to convert an injury time penalty that passed through goalkeeper Essam Al Hadari’s hands to make it 4-2 but it failed to take any gloss off of what was an impressive performance from the defending champions.











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