Egypt tops Ivory Coast 4-2 penalty for 5th African Cup
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-11 10:04

CAIRO, Egypt - Egypt won the African Cup of Nations for a record fifth time, beating Ivory Coast 4-2 on penalty kicks Friday night following a 0-0 tie.

Egyptian forward Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam raises the Africa Cup at the end of the African Nations Cup (CAN) final football game at Cairo's international staduim.[AFP]

Mohamed Aboutrika converted the winning penalty kick after Egypt goalkeeper Essam Al Hadari stopped Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba and Bakary Kone during the shootout.

"This tournament belongs to the Egyptian fans. It was not one single player who won this. It was a joint effort," Pharaohs forward Hossam Hassan said after being hugged by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and lifting the trophy.

Drogba, a leading player for Chelsea in England, missed an open goal in the 77th minute during a rough game in which players scuffled and disputed calls by Tunisian referee Mourad Daami.

"Of course it's disappointing for us ... but we are a strong team and are going to the World Cup," Ivory Coast's Abdoulaye Meite said. "With penalties you always know it's heads or tails."

Egypt fans celebrate in the streets of Cairo after Egypt won the African Nations Cup final soccer match between Egypt and Ivory Coast at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt Friday, Feb. 10, 2006. Final score was a 4-2 penalty win for Egypt after a 0-0 draw. [AP]

Egypt had a chance to go ahead in overtime, but captain Ahmed Hassan penalty kick went off a post.

The Pharaohs also won the title in 1957, 1959, 1986 and 1998.

Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o was the top scorer in the three-week tournament with five goals.

Ivory Coast is preparing for the World Cup. Africa's other World Cup qualifiers stumbled, with Angola, Ghana and Togo eliminated in the first round and Tunisia losing in the quarterfinals.