Egypt breaks Ghana's Record ....

... win record fifth African National Cup title
CAIRO, Feb. 10 -- Egypt won a record fifth African Cup title Friday, beating Ivory Coast 4-2 on penalties after goalless draw in the regular and extra time.

Mohamed Aboutrika converted the clinching penalty for the Pharaohs after Egyptian keeper Essam Al Hadari saved attempts by Didier Drogba and Bakary Kone, sending a crowd of more than 74,000, including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, in Cairo International Stadium into a frenzy.

The victory gave Egypt its first title since 1998 and one more than Ghana and Cameroon. It was the second time Egypt had beaten the Ivory Coast in two weeks. Egypt won their Group A first-round encounter 3-1.

Penalties were required after 120 minutes of goalless soccer, including a disputed extra-time penalty, which Egyptian captain Ahmed Hassan put off the post.

The Ivory Coast, which was seeking only its second continental title and first since 1992, had its best chance in the 77th minute but Drogba shot high over an empty net.

"This tournament belongs to the Egyptian fans. It was not one single player who won this. It was a joint effort." veteran Egyptian striker Hossam Hassan said.

Ahmed Hassan, Mohamed Abdulwahab, Amr Zaki and Abutraika converted their penalty attempts for Egypt, while Abdulhalim Ali missed. For Ivory Coast, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue scored.

Egypt, which had to overcome the loss of defender Wael Gomaa to injury in the 22nd minute, also played without Tottenham striker Mido, who was banned from the team for six months for dissent. Mido sat in the media tribune to watch the match, but joined his teammates during the penalty shootout.

The match degenerated into a melee of pushing and shoving in the 95th minute when Tunisian referee Mourad Daami awarded a penalty after Mohamed Barakat tumbled to the ground following an apparent collision with a defender. Television replays showed minimal contact.

Both benches emptied amid heated protests from the Ivory Coast, with minor scuffles between the sides.

Hassan, voted player of the tournament, stepped up, but his shot hit the post and was cleared by the defense.

Egypt appeared to score in the 84th minute, but the goal was disallowed for a foul by Zaki on Ivory Coast goalkeeper, Jean-Jacques Tizie.

　　Lineups:

Egypt: Essam Al Hadari, Mohamed Abdelwahab, Ibrahim Said (Abdulhalim Ali, 113), Abdel Zaher El Saqqa, Emad Moteab (Hassan Mustafa, 81), Mohamed Shawki, Mohamed Barakat, Amr Zaki, Ahmed Hassan, Wael Gomaa (Ahmed Fathi, 22), Mohamed Aboutrika.

Ivory Coast: Jean-Jacques Tizie, Kanga Akale (Bonaventure Kalou,60), Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue, Blaise Kouassi, Arthur Boka, Didier Zokora, Yaya Toure (Bakari Kone, 90), Didier Drogba, ArounaKone, Emerse Fae. Enditem