Egypt won a record sixth African Cup of Nations with a deserved victory over Cameroon. Mohamed Aboutrika scored the winner 14 minutes from time after Mohamed Zidan capitalised on a Rigobert Song error.

It was a triumph for Hassan Shehata, the Egypt coach, who becomes only the second coach to win successive trophies, while it was also a record third title for Ahmed Hassan, the captain, the most by any player in the history of the competition.

The North Africans looked sharp from the outset, using their pace and skill to outwit Cameroon, who they beat 4-2 in the opening match of the tournament.

Geremi created the first opening for his side when the Newcastle United midfielder played in Samuel Eto'o with a fine cross from the right that was headed over by the Barcelona forward.

Egypt hit back when Hosny Abd Rabou curled a 25-yard free-kick over the wall, but Carlos Kameni was on hand to save low to his left, before Sayed Moawad drew a similar save with his shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Another Geremi cross caused confusion in the Egyptian penalty area after ten minutes, but goalkeeper Essam El Hadary managed to punch the ball away. Aboutrika then forced Kameni to dive low and parry away his fizzing 20-yard shot for a corner as Egypt looked sharp on the break.

Otto Pfister's side were dealt a major blow after 15 minutes, when Arsenal's Alexandre Song, who came into the game with an injury, had to be replaced by Gilles Binya. But the change did not immediately seem to affect them as Geremi's 30-yard free-kick drew a sprawling save from El Hadary to his left.

Another good chance came for Egypt after 19 minutes when Amr Zaky played in Emad Moteab inside the area, but Kameni made another excellent block. The parry fell into the path of Aboutrika, but he blazed over. The Al-Ahly midfielder again fired over midway through the half after Hany Said's commanding run and cross into the left side of the penalty area.

At the other end, Eto'o controlled the ball 20 yards out and turned well towards the right by-line, before firing across the face of goal. But Egypt continued to threaten on the break and Moteab had a fantastic chance to give them the lead in the 36th minute after being put through by Aboutrika, only for Kameni to pull off another stunning stop from the striker's close-range volley.

Zaky then fired narrowly over from a 30-yard free-kick on the left on the stroke of half-time.

After the restart, Kameni denied Zaky with an excellent save from an acute angle on the left, before somehow managing to keep out Hosny's shot from the edge of the penalty area as Egypt team piled on the pressure.

Hosny came closest to breaking the deadlock shortly after the hour mark, when he headed against the upright after a brilliant floated cross from Aboutrika on the right. But with 13 minutes remaining, Egypt finally got the goal they deserved.

Song, the Cameroon captain, was punished for untidy defending, and was robbed of possession by Zidan, who slid the ball across to an unmarked Aboutrika to steer the ball home.

Cameroon upped the tempo, but struggled to create any openings until five minutes from time when a cross from the right took a nasty bounce forcing El Hadary to tip over, before Stephane Mbia drew a fine stop from the Egyptian custodian with his close-range shot from the right side of the box.

Song then missed a good chance at the death when he headed Geremi's pin-point cross over as the North Africans claimed a hard-fought win.

Cameroon: Kameni, Tchato, Song, Atouba, Emana (Idrissou 56), Song Billong (Binya 16), Mbia, Epalle (M'Bami 65), Geremi, Nkong, Eto'o.

Subs Not Used: Hamidou, Mbarga, Angbwa, Essola, Makoun, N'Guemo, Tomou, Job.

Booked: Atouba, Idrissou.

Egypt: El Hadari, Mohamed, Hany Said, Gomaa, Moawad, Fathi, Hassan, Abd Rabou, Aboutriaka (Ibrahim Said 89), Moteab (Zidan 60), Zaki (Shawky 84).

Subs Not Used: Abdel Monssef, Sobhy, El Saeed, Fathallah, Gamal, Mostafa, Shaaban, El Mohamady, Fadl.

Booked: Hassan.

Goals: Aboutriaka 77.

Attendance: 35,500

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