Cameroon ended a 15-year wait to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the fifth time, a fantastic late individual goal from Vincent Aboubakar sealing victory as the Indomitable Lions came from a goal behind.

Egypt, looking to win their eighth Africa Cup of Nations, looked well set to repeat their favourite 1-0 scoreline after Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny rifled home to beat Fabrice Ondoa midway through a cagey opening half. 

Cameroon suffered another blow just after the half hour mark when influential defender Adolphe Teikeu succumbed to injury and had to be replaced by Nicolas N’Koulou.

Yet the Indomitable Lions ended the half as the stronger side, pushing Egypt back into their own half and causing a few nervy moments in the North Africans’ defence. Nonetheless, Egypt led 1-0 at the interval.

Cameroon made a second change at the start of the second half, sending on experienced striker Vincent Aboubakar in place of Robert Ndip Tambe, but it was their first substitute, N’Koulou, who made a huge impact just before the hour mark.

The defender brought the West Africans level in the 59th minute when he got on the end of an in-swinging cross from Benjamin Moukandjo and turned his header into the back of the net to make it 1-1.

Ten minutes later he threatened a second from a corner kick, but put his header was off target as Cameroon went up a gear and began to really dominate proceedings in Libreville.

The match looked to be headed to extra time, but in the 88th minute Aboubakar controlled a long ball, chipped it over the head of a defender and volleyed beyond Essam El Hadary to win the match and the championship for the Indomitable Lions.

It’s the first time Egypt have been defeated in the final since 1952 and Cameroon now become the second most successful side in the tournament’s history.