Egypt won the African Cup of Nations for the third time in a row after substitute Mohamed Gedo scored in the 85th minute to earn a 1-0 victory over Ghana in the final.
Tournament debutant Gedo curled in a shot from within the area to give Egypt its record seventh title.
No other team has won the biennial tournament three consecutive times.
World Cup qualifier Ghana, which had been hoping to earn its first continental crown since 1982, dominated for most of the match but failed to create clearcut chances.
Egypt played without suspended striker Mahmoud Fathallah while Ghana was at full strength with goalkeeper Richard Kingson overcoming a minor hamstring injury to start.
Meeting in the final for the first time in 53 years, both teams made a cautious start, scrapping for possession in midfield and struggling to create chances.
Ghana defender Samuel Inkoom tried his luck with a free kick from 30 meters in the eighth minute, while Egypt captain Hamed Hassan fared no better with a long-range effort five minutes later which flew over the bar.
Fielding four members of the team that won the Under20 World Cup last year, Ghana defended neatly and were able to move swiftly into the Egypt half. However, Ghana failed to really support its strikers.
Enjoying the support of the Angolan crowd, Ghana had another chance in the 15th minute but Agyeman Badu’s shot from a free kick was deflected wide.
Andre Ayew, the son of African great Abedi Pele, then failed to take advantage of Egypt’s poor clearance in the 20th minute, fluffing his half-volley while unmarked in the box, moments before Kwadwo Asamoah fired a 30-metre drive directly into the hands of Essam El Hadary.
Hassan tried to latch onto a free kick with his hand four minutes before the interval but couldn’t catch the ball.
Asamoah Gyan, who scored Ghana’s winners against both Angola and Nigeria in the previous stages, went close in the 52nd minute with a perfectly curled free kick that was tipped over the bar by El Hadary.
Ghana maintained its domination as Ayew unleashed a low shot that ended just wide while Egypt players were forced to make fouls to contain their opponents’ speed.
Gyan was a threat again in the 74th minute when he missed the target following a quick counterattack before forcing El Hadary to palm the ball away on a free kick.
Egypt finally broke the deadlock against the run of the play when Gedo, the top striker of the tournament with five goals, was perfectly set up on the left side of the box after a nice one-two and scored with a curling shot past Kingson at the far post.
Egyptians players and members of their staff invaded the field at the final whistle while fans lit flares. Striker Mohamed Zidan was blocked by security officers as he tried to reach the stands and was unable to join Egypt’s fans in their celebrations.
