A heroic performance from a clearly injured Mohamed Abou Gabal in the Egyptian goal sent his country through to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations as he saved two penalties in the shoot-out.
In an attritional first half where Cameroon were on top, the tournament hosts almost took the lead in the 17th minute through Michael Ngadeu, but his looping header from a corner crashed off the post.
Two minutes later and the Gent defender squandered another glorious opportunity from a corner. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa cleverly flicked the ball into his path at the near post, but the 31-year-old miskicked his shot, coming off his standing leg.
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The closest either side came to scoring in the second half was through Cameroon’s Samuel Gouet who fired an audacious 40-yard strike on goal which blasted off the post.
And in the final moments of a scrappy contest before the full-time whistle blew, Egypt boss Carlos Quieroz was shown a second yellow card for his complaints towards the referee Bakary Gassama, much to the annoyance of Mohamed Salah before extra-time commenced.
In the last minute of a extra-time with legs tiring, substitute Ramadan Sobhi fired a dangerous cross from the byline which evaded three Egypt players four yards out before penalties commenced.
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Cameroon’s second penalty from Harold Moukoudi was comfortably saved by Abou Gabal in the Egypt goal, who then doubled up by saving the third from the hosts.