Holders Egypt in African Cup semifinals

KUMASI, Ghana -- Holders Egypt reached the semifinals of the African Cup of Nations on Monday when goals by Hosni Abd Rabou and Amr Zaky gave them a 2-1 victory over Angola.

Egypt will next face Ivory Coast on Thursday in a repeat of the 2006 final, which the Pharaohs won at home in a penalty shootout to claim their fifth continental title.

Abd Rabou scored a penalty to give Egypt the lead in the 23rd minute after Japanese referee Nichimura Yuichi penalized Andre Macanga for handling in the area.The goal was Abd Rabou's fourth of the tournament.

Manchester United's recent signing Manucho leveled for Angola in the 27th, dribbling past Shady Mohamed before beating goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary with a stunning 25 meters shot.

Zaki took advantage of a defensive error to put Egypt back in front in the 38th and that was the way it stayed.

Ivory Coast booked their last four ticket on Sunday with a crushing 5-0 win over Guinea.

Angola, making their first last-eight appearance at their fifth attempt, head home having proved themselves as the rising force of African football.

"They gave us our toughest game so far," Ismailia midfielder Rabou said. "Now we've got the Ivory Coast. They're a good team, but we beat them two years ago."

Egypt, who have not lost a game in the competition since 2004, took the lead when Rabou sent keeper Lama the wrong way from the spot after Andre stuck out his hand to try to stop Aboutrika's freekick.

The Angolans were furious, but their mood changed dramatically four minutes later with a moment of magic from Manucho.

Manucho took his personal goal tally in Ghana to four with a tremendous left-footed strike from 20 metres, the ball flying high over the helpless Egyptian defense and into the roof of Essam Al Hadari's net.

Egypt regained the advantage when Leeds defender and Angola captain Rui Marques missed a clearance and Zaky knocked the ball past Lama with his chest.

Manucho should have equalised for a second time with the second half just 15 seconds old.

The lanky attacker who has been loaned out by United to Panathinaikos for the rest of the season had Al Hadary beaten after running on to Flavio's flick but his shot edged the wrong side of the right hand post. E-mail to a friend