Egypt players celebrate one of their four goals against Algeria that qualified them to the final

Defending Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt strolled into the final of the competition and a clash with Ghana after trouncing archrivals Algeria 4-0 as their North African opponents finished the game with only eight men and bowed out in untidy fashion in the event currently played in Angola.

The game was evenly poised until Rafik Halliche felled Emad Moteab in the box eight minutes before the break, earning a red card for his troubles, and Hosni Abd Rabou converted the spot-kick. Mohamed Zidan added a classy second after 65 minutes before Nadir Belhadj saw red for a horror challenge on Ahmed El Mohamady five minutes later.

Mohamed Abdelshafi grabbed his first goal for Egypt nine minutes from time, but there was still time for Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi, who was lucky not to have been dismissed in the first half, to pick up a second yellow and for Mohamed Gedo to make it 4-0 in stoppage time.

The match started to turn in Egypt’s favour when Halliche was red carded and a penalty awarded the Pharaohs. He was unlucky that an earlier yellow card handed out to him after a fair challenge on the Egyptian goalkeeper was added to the second one and he was off to leave Algeria to soldier on to the end of the first half a goal down and a man down.

It was Egypt’s day as they had hoped, and eventually succeeded to avenge their elimination from this summer’s World Cup by Algeria who beat them in a play-off match in Sudan in November.

To their credit, Egypt have played against three World Cup qualifiers in our five matches in Angola, and will play against a fourth Sunday and they’ve beaten them all in this edition. On the way they scored 10 goals against them, which should boost further their morale.

The victory also helped Egypt preserve their unbeaten run in the competition’s finals. The last time they lost a match was six years ago, in 2004. Ironically, the last to beat them was Algeria.

For nearly 40 minutes it was an even contest. Karim Matmour should have done better for Algeria 10 minutes in when, unmarked at the back post, he missed his kick. A minute later Madjid Bougherra tried his luck from distance but the ball finished wide.

After 25 minutes, the mercurial Zidan combined well with Emad Moteab, who curled in a shot. Chaouchi dived to palm away. Then just after the half-hour mark, Moteab stretched in the area but could not quite reach a dangerous curling cross from Said Moawad.

The key moment came after 37 minutes, when Moteab went down under a challenge from Halliche and referee Codja Koffi awarded a penalty. After a lengthy delay, Koffi also produced the red card. Hosni converted the spot-kick with the help of a stuttering run-up, which infuriated the Algerian goalkeeper. He protested vehemently and was shown the yellow card.

Moawad had the chance to add a second when he advanced into the area but fired wide.

In the second half despite being a man short, Algeria did most of the running and looked full value for an equaliser, but Egypt came nearer to adding a second goal with Zidan and two other players to failing to get a decent strike on goal.

But they finally increased their lead against the run of play a minute later through Zidan, who did it in style. He bore down on goal and, with substitute Hossam Ghaly in support, he turned Belhadj inside out before dispatching the ball left-footed into the far corner.
Soon after Belhadj's night then got even worse as he launched a two-footed lunge on El Mohamady and was given his marching orders.

The match declined to remain a contest after that and Ahmed Hassan fired into the side netting, while Abdelshafi who came off the bench added a third goal from an acute angle.

Chaouchi was belatedly dismissed two minutes from time as he swung his foot at Gedo, who moments later finished past substitute keeper Mohamed Zemmamouche for the fourth that crowned Egypt’s success and sent them to final with Ghana as they attempt to win their seventh title, and a record third victory on the trot.