kumasi, ghana (ap)
Egypt won their 2006 championship rematch with Ivory Coast yesterday and returned to the African Cup of Nations final, where they will face Cameroon in a game pitting two of the continents most successful countries.
Amr Zaki scored twice for Egypt, which beat Ivory Coast 4-1, while Alain Nkong tallied midway through the second half to give Cameroon a 1-0 victory over hosts and four-time winners Ghana.
''Today we were in good form and we showed why we should be playing in the final again,'' Egypt assistant coach Shawki Gharib said.
Egypt will try to add to their record six African Cup titles, while Cameroon will play for a fifth, making the final for the first time since 2002.
Ahmed Fathi put Egypt in front after 12 minutes off a powerful shot from the edge of area and Zaki headed Ahmed Hassan's cross to double the lead in the 62nd.
Lyon winger Abdulkader Keita used a solo effort to pull Ivory Coast within 2-1 in the 63rd, but Zaki added a goal 67th before Mohamed Zidan set up Mohamed Aboutreika, who beat substitute goalkeeper Stephan Loboue from five metres in the 90th.
Sunday's championship game will be a rematch of the first-round encounter which Egypt beat Cameroon 4-2.
''Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose,'' said Cameroon's Germany coach Otto Pfister, who led Ghana to the 1992 African Cup title match. ''Cameroon have the best bench in the tournament. There's no difference between each player.''
Ghana and Ivory Coast will play for third place tomorrow.
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