Egypt has crashed out of the African Youth Championship on penalties against Cameroon. Ahmed Hegazi and Mohamed Hamdi missed the first two spot kicks allowing Cameroon to win the tie and set up showdown with Nigeria in the final.
The result didn’t entirely sum up the match, which was a very contested, both sides keen to avoid conceding any goals, somewhat at the expense of the show.
The young Pharaohs had improved in the second half, as Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Hamdi and Mohamed Ibrahim all shared in the attack, though none was able to put the ball in the back of the net.
The Egyptians claimed a penalty midway through the second half as Ibrahim was tackled in the area, but the referee ruled it out and controversially booked Ibrahim for diving.
Keeper Ahmed El-Shenawy produced a heroic display, denying several dangerous occasions from the indomitable Lions.
Going into extra-time, the Pharaohs took control of the game, but the chances kept on flowing over the Cameroonian keeper who had to stand on his toes to keep his clean sheet.
The penalty showdown saw also some controversial decisions as the referee ordered the replay of two blocked penalty kicks by El-Shenawy, which mounted the pressure, the Egyptians claiming that he killed any hopes of a comeback.
Watch the Goals
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