Ayew, who scored two penalties on the way to the semi-final, was unable to contribute on the night, as Ghana froze in their sixth consecutive Cup of Nations semi-final.
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Hugo Broos’ side held on as Ghana fought back and eventually sealed the result in stoppage time. “But if they give you money you have to feel the amount is respectful”.
“It is a real dream for us to get to the final”, said the Belgian coach. They played with a free spirit.
Both sides had gone close to breaking the deadlock before Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui took advantage of atrocious defending from a free-kick to lash in the opener in the 72nd minute. They are 23 friends.
Egypt now await Cameroon, in a repeat of 2008’s final.
Former Ghana global, Samuel Osei Kuffour has called on the Ghana Football Association to change the system they use in running football or they should forget about winning any major title for a foreseeable future.
“As a group, we are not happy with the bonus”.
Egypt on the other hand have been absolutely consistent, demonstrating once again their mastery of African football and the art of winning championships in Africa.
In the 63rd minute Fabrice Ondoa pulled off a stunning save from Wakaso Mubarak’s curling strike from a free-kick.
Even the introduction from the bench of captain Asamoah Gyan, who wasn’t fully recovered from injury to start, didn’t work.
Kinetic midfielders Ahmed Fathy and Mahmoud Abdel-Moneim have been terrific while 44-year-old goalkeeper, Essam El Hadary, was heroic as the North Africans, coached by Argentian Héctor Raúl Cúper, knocked Burkina Faso out on penalties.
The game was then limited to midfield battle, as each side struggled to win possession and score, ending the half on a barren note.
Cameroon have surprised many by making it all the way to the semi-finals.
So while Ghana have had to travel to the south-east of Gabon from Oyem, Cameroon were able to stay at their base in the nearby town of Moanda, one of the biggest manganese producers in the world.
He has created an ultra-solid Egypt team which has conceded just one goal, and has worn each of its opponents down by giving away nothing at the back.
Cameroon, the less favoured team in the competition, repeated a similar feat over Ghana in 2008, when they beat the Stars by a lone in at the same stage of the competition in Ghana.
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Their build-up has been slightly tarnished over a disagreement relating to bonuses, with Broos saying the country’s federation has shown the team “a lack of respect”.
