Mohamed Salah and Egypt through to Afcon final after shootout win over Cameroon

Egypt sealed their place in the Africa Cup of Nations final after defeating hosts Cameroon 3-1 in a penalty shootout on Thursday.

The tense match at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde had finished goalless after extra-time but it was the Pharaohs that sealed their place in Sunday's final against Senegal after Cameroon fluffed their lines from the spot.

Three spot kicks in a row from Harold Moukoudi, James Lea Siliki and Clinton N'Jie were missed by the hosts — the first two saved by Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Abou 'Gabaski' Gabal — meaning Salah was not required to take his team's final penalty.

The Egypt captain will now go up against his Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane in the final at the same venue. How Reds manager Jurgen Klopp feels about his two key attackers going all the way in a draining tournament is another matter.

It was Salah who enjoyed one of the game's first chances when he curled a first-time shot wide of target after eight minutes. But that was about as good as it got for Salah and Egypt in the first half.

Cameroon dominated possession and controlled the game but, unfortunately for them, the two best chances fell to defender Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui, rather than attackers Aboubakar and Karl Toko Ekambi, who had scored all 11 of the team's goals in the tournament so far.

The first opportunity came after 18 minutes when Ngadeu-Ngadjui rose highest to meet a corner but his header thumped the top of the post and Egypt scrambled rebound behind before Aboubakar could pounce.

Another corner was sent in — this time hit low — that ended up with the big defender but he could not get his feet in order and completely fluffed the shot.

Cameroon were causing problems down the flanks and one cut-back fell to Toko Ekambi whose