Egypt captain Ahmed Hassan scored twice Tuesday to lead his team to a 3-1 extra-time win over Cameroon and into the semifinals against Algeria at the African Cup of Nations.
Making an African-record 170th international appearance, Hassan inadvertently gave Cameroon a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute by heading in a corner from Achille Emana at the near post.
Ten minutes later, Hassan's long-range effort bounced in front of goalkeeper Carlos Kameni and went into the net.
Substitute Mohamed Gedo gave Egypt the lead in the second minute of extra time, beating Kameni after a poor back pass from Cameroon defender Geremi Njitap.
Hassan scored two minutes later from a long-range free kick that didn't appear to cross the goal line after Kameni had punched the ball on to the underside of the crossbar.
Egypt, the two-time defending champion who is unbeaten in its last 17 African Cup games, will play Algeria on Thursday in a repeat of the World Cup qualifier in November at Cairo in which Egyptian fans pelted a bus carrying Algerian players with missiles.
Three Algerian players were hurt. Fan violence after Algeria won to qualify for the World Cup left more than 32 people injured.
Following three consecutive Cameroon corners, Geremi tried his luck from long range in the 12th but his shot went over the bar.
Egypt was dangerous on the break but it was Cameroon which broke the deadlock on a set-piece, Hassan beating his own goalkeeper Essam El Hadary with a header into the top corner while attempting to clear Emana's corner.
Hassan made up for his defensive mistake in the 37th, equalizing with a 35-metre shot that Kameni should have saved. The Egypt captain ran to the substitutes bench and celebrated by brandishing a shirt bearing the No. 170.
Egypt started strongly in the second half, going close in the 47th minute when Emad Motaeb collected El Hadary's long kick only to be stopped in a one-on-one with Kameni. Seconds later, striker Mohamed Zidan dragged a shot wide following a counterattack.
Zidan's attempt in the 49th from a tight angle was denied by Kameni.
Cameroon's Georges Mandjeck stole the ball on the edge of Egypt's area in the 54th before unleashing a powerful drive that shaved a post.
Soon after, Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o set up Eyong Enoh in front of goal but the Ajax midfielder skied the ball over the bar.
Cameroon started to dominate the game, with El Hadary palming away Emana's shot in the 63rd and Eto'o shooting straight at the goalkeeper 15 minutes later.
Motaeb sent a low volley from Hassan's cross that went just wide as Egypt missed a great chance to win the match a minute before the end of regulation time.
Gedo intercepted Geremi's back pass and slotted home before Hassan doubled Egypt's lead following a controversial decision by referee Jerome Damon to award the goal.
Cameroon's Aurelien Chedjou was sent off in the 112th minute after fouling Gedo.
AP