Cairo (Egypt): Host Egypt rode the support of 74,000 to a 2-1 victory over Senegal in the second semifinal of the Africans nations Cup to set up the title clash with Ivory Coast.
Second-half substitute Amr Zaki scored with his first touch with nine minutes remaining to lift Egypt, which will try for a record fifth title on Friday.
The final will be a replay of a January 28 first-round encounter, when Egypt prevailed 3-1 to win Group A.
Egyptian coach Hassan Shehata's 77th-minute substitution, replacing Tottenham striker Mido with Zaki, paid off quickly. Zaki climbed above the Senegalese defence to meet a cross and head home the winner.
"I'm so glad I got that goal. It's great," Zaki said.
Assistant coach Shawki Ghaib said Mido's replacement paid off.
"We did what we had to win the game and have a shot at the tournament," Ghaib said. "Obviously we're very happy with the way things went. This was a great step toward the title and we've taken it. The game was even and a great advertisement for African football."
Egypt led in the 34th minute when Ahmed Hassan converted a twice-taken penalty, only for the Terenga Lions to equalize six minutes into the second half on Mamadou Niang's header.
Mido was bitterly disappointed to be substituted, and started arguing with Shehata even before leaving the field. He had to be restrained by teammates after he started shouting at his coach.
Egypt last reached the final in 1998, when it beat South Africa for its fourth title. Ghana and Cameroon also have won four African Cup crowns.
Senegal, which scored twice in the final nine minutes to beat Guinea 3-2 in the quarterfinals, failed to maintain its composure.
"I'm very happy with the way my team played tonight. It was a tough game and we played on our nerves," Senegal coach Abdoulaye Sarr said. "It's difficult to play the home team at this stage of the tournament. We were playing against a coach, his players and their fans."
Senegal sorely missed captain Ferdinand Coly, who missed the game because of injury, and the introduction of Bolton forward El-Hadji Diouf halfway through the second half made little impact.
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