Africa Cup of Nations 2008 hosts, Ghana, and favourites, the Ivory Coast, were both surprisingly beaten in yesterday’s thrilling Africa Cup semi-finals. Cameroon beat Ghana and Egypt beat Ivory Coast to reach the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday.

Cameroon reached their sixth Africa Cup of Nations final beating Ghana 1-0 in a very close game. Apart from Newcastle’s Geremi hitting the bar in the first half, Cameroon had little chance to score until substitute Alain Nkong scored the winner on 71 minutes.

In a most extraodinary incident, Cameroon defender Andre Bikey was sent off in the 90th minute for pushing a medical official to the ground who had come onto the pitch to tend to an injured player.

Junior Agogo had a chance to equalise for Ghana in the last minute when he shot a free header over the bar.

In the other semi-final, current champions Egypt played the tournament favourites Ivory Coast in a repeat of the 2006 final. But this time Egypt shocked everyone by thrashing the fancied Ivory Coast.

Ahmed Fathi put Egypt ahead in the 12th minute with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. The Ivory Coast held on until half time.

In the second half Egypt went further ahead when Amr Zaki made it 2-0 with a header. But when Kader Keita pulled a goal back a minute later with a stunning 25-yard strike, it looked like the Ivory Coast were going to make a dramatic comeback, but it wasn’t to be.
Egypt ended up winning comfortably with another two goals from Zaki and Mohamed Aboutrika, who scored the fourth goal in stoppage time.

Ghana will play Ivory Coast for the third & fourth place play-off on Saturday - 7pm UK time.

Cameroon will play Egypt in the final on Sunday - 7pm UK time.