Hosts Egypt won the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations title on Friday after defeating Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 after extra time in the final at the Cairo International Stadium.
Karim El Eraky opened the scoring in the 37th minute side-footing the ball into the net from a Ramdhan Sobhi cross.
Egypt held on until the 88th minute when Côte d’Ivoire eventually equalized through Aboubacar Doumbia to send the game into extra time.
Both sides went close but Egypt got the game’s winning goal in the 114th minute when man of the match Sobhi pounced on a loose ball after Ivorian keeper Eliezer Tape pushed a shot from Yasser Rayan into his path.
The win was Egypt’s first AFCONU23 title with both teams contesting in the final for the first time in their history.
The Egyptian team collected more honours following the match: Mostafa Mohamed finished the tournament’s top scorer with four goals, Shawky Gharib was named the tournament’s best coach and Mohamed Sobhi was named the best goalkeeper.
Egypt also claimed the Fair Play Award and captain Sobhi was named Total Man of the Competition.
In the 3rd/4th place playoff earlier at the same venue, South Africa beat Ghana 6-5 on penalties to finish third overall and claim a place at next year’s football tournament at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
An own goal by Habib Mohammed and a goal from Kamohelo Mahlatsi twice gave South Africa the lead but Ghana replied through Evans Mensah and Samuel Obeng to send the game into extra time and eventually penalties.
Ghana missed three of their five penalties with Emmanuel Cudjoe missing the crucial one in sudden death to hand South Africa the win.
South Africa joins Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire as Africa’s representatives at the Olympics.
