FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.02.2008 23:50

No final for Touré

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Barcelona’s Touré and Eto’o will not be meeting in the final of the African Cup of Nations. Cameroon will meet Egypt, who thrashed the Ivory Coast in the semi finals.

Barça fans would have loved to see a Cameroon v Ivory Coast final, but it was not to be. Egypt have beaten the Ivory Coast in the Baba Yara Stadium after cruising past Touré’s side 1-4. Egypt’s skills and counter attack eventually proved too strong, and despite playing the 90 minutes, there was little Touré could do to stop the rout.

The game started with a shock for Touré, who was grounded while jumping to challenge for the ball. But it was a false alarm and he was eventually able to play to the end. Egypt took just 12 minutes to open their account when a Fathi strike took a deflection and went past Barry Copa. The Ivorian keeper was injured in the 37th minute and had to be replaced by Loboué

Controlled play from Egypt

The Egyptians simply looked more poised as they took the game to the Elephants. Aboutrika and Fathi both had excellently chances before the break, and on the stroke of half time Chelsea’s Drogba almost headed home a rebound off Egypt stopper Al Hadar’s chest to make it all square.

Goals both ways

The Ivorians came out charging in the second half. Drogba had another chance to score from a header in the 48th minute but Al Hadari produced another class save. But just as the Ivory Coast were starting to look like pulling a goal back, Zaki headed home a 61st minute corner to make it 2-0, to which the Ivorians responded immediately with delightful shot from outside the area by Keita made it 2-1.

Manic ending

It was then a frenzied chase to the finish, with the Ivory Coast desperate to find an equaliser, but their efforts were frustrated as Zaki got his second of the night with an angled shot to Loboué .Egypt’s fourth came in injury time when Aboutrika converted after a lightning quick counter attack. So Egypt and Cameroon will meet in the final, while the Ivory Coast meet host nation Ghana to play off for third and fourth place.