Africa Cup of Nations Day 3
Egypt 4 Cameroon 2, Sudan 0 Zambia 3
The Pharaohs outplayed the Indomitable Lions in the early evening kick off and were boosted when Hosni Abd Kabou converted a penalty awarded after Reading defender André Bikey handled on the edge of the Cameroon six-yard box. The twice-taken spot kick was placed to Carlos Kameni's left and before long the lead was doubled.
Mohamed Zidan scored his first sliding a well-placed shot past Kameni after Egypt had sprung a quick counter-attack; his second with an explosive left foot strike just before half-time which left Cameroon, who started the match favourites to win Group C, leaving the field stunned.
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o, however, was never far from the action and headed Cameroon back into the game from Geremi's right-wing cross five minutes into the second half.
But the 2000 and 2002 champions struggled to pass the ball despite a much better playing surface than was evident in the capital Accra for the opening game and could not find a way to cut the deficit further. Egypt sealed the win with Hosni's second late on, a low right-foot drive past Kameni's left hand.
Eto'o converted an injury time penalty but it did little to save Cameroon face after a poor performance and an even worse result. Egypt, however, looked like they have kept their attacking verve that helped them win the trophy on home soil two years ago, despite the absence of the injured Middlesbrough striker Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam.
In the evening match, underdogs Sudan were perhaps hard-done-by losing 3-0 to Zambia, a result that does not begin to tell the story of the match.
James Chamanga's excellent strike from the edge of the area gave Zambia the lead inside two minutes but Sudan had the better of the rest of the first half, going close to an equalizer on numerous occasions.
Zambia were without suspended star striker Chris Katongo but his replacement Jacob Mulenga doubled the lead early in the second half, nodding in a rebound after Clive Hachilensa had powerfully headed a right-wing corner against the Sudan crossbar.
The third soon followed as Sudanese goalkeeper Mahjoub El Moez failed to hold onto a shot from Rainford Kalaba and Felix Katongo fired home on the rebound.
Zambia top the group on goal difference but Cameroon's defeat remains the big story of the day; this despite Samuel Eto'o reaching 13 Cup of Nations goals, just one short of the record held by Ivory Coast striker Laurent Pokou.
Results
EGYPT 4 (Hosni pen 14', 82', Zidan 17', 45') CAMEROON 2 (Eto'o 51', pen 90')
SUDAN 0 ZAMBIA 3 (Chamanga 2', J. Mulenga 50', F. Katongo 59')
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