Defending champions Egypt it made through to the Semi-Finals of the African Cup of Nations with a 2-1 victory over Angola. A penalty from Hosny Abd Rabou and a goal from Amr Zaki were enough to put the Pharaohs through.

As is to be expected in the knock out stages the opening was cautious with both sides probing. The first real chance came to Egypt with Emad Moteab clear on goal shooting wide. On the 20th minute an innocuous challenge between Mohammed Aboutraika and and an Angolan defender was ruled as a foul by the referee. The free-kick taken by Aboutraika was charged down by Angola defender Macanga using his hand in the eighteen and the resultant penalty was coolly slotted home by Abd Rabou to give the Egyptians the lead.

The lead was short-lived as Angola hit back swiftly. Manchester United’s new signing Manucho Gonclaves out muscled Sayed Moawed before release a 30 yard screamer which left Egyptian keeper Essam Al Hadri flapping in the wind and drew the Angolans level and taking Manucho’s goal tally to four goals.

The goal lifted the Angolans, but the good spell they enjoyed after the equaliser did not last long, a cross from Ahmed Fathi whipped into the Angolan eighteen caught everyone unaware including Amr Zaki, but luckily struck the Egyptian strikers midsection and deflected past Lama for Egypt’s second goal.

Minutes into the second half Manucho almost doubled his tally for the game after a cross from Flavio found him in space and his shot missed the target by millimetres. The 60th minute saw him again causing havoc and bringing out a great save by Egyptian keeper Al Hadri.

Angolan pushed desperately for an equaliser but the composed Egyptians were able to thwart any attacks and saw out the game to set up a meeting with Cote d’Ivoire in a repeat of the 2006 African Cup of Nations Final