ACCRA, Feb 5: Stephane Mbia scored twice to help Cameroon see off Tunisia 3-2 after extra time on Monday and set up an African Nations Cup semi-final against hosts Ghana.

The Indomitable Lions and Ghana, who beat Nigeria 2-1 on Sunday, will meet at Accra’s Ohene Djan stadium in Thursday’s first semi-final (1700 GMT).

In the other semi-final at Kumasi’s Baba Yara stadium (2030), Ivory Coast face 2006 champions Egypt, who beat Angola 2-1 in the earlier quarter-final on Monday.

The game in Kumasi will bring together the teams that met in the 2006 final in Cairo, which Egypt won on penalties.

Ivory Coast showed their ambitions with a 5-0 demolition of Guinea in their quarter-final in Sekondi on Sunday.

Tunisia seemed to have done the hardest part after coming back from a two-goal deficit in the quarter-final at Tamale’s Sports stadium but Cameroon, who started their campaign with a 4-2 defeat by Egypt, never gave up.

Mbia headed in Mohamadou Idrissou’s cross at the far post in the 18th minute before Geremi curled an exquisite free kick over the wall and inside the near post to double their lead.

Tunisia pulled one back in the 34th minute with a free kick of their own, Chaouki Ben Saada floating a left-footed effort past keeper Idriss Carlos Kameni.

Roger Lemerre’s side levelled in the 81st minute when the impressive Sabeur Ben Frej broke free on the right and sent over a low cross which Yassine Chikhaoui swept majestically into the goal on the turn.

However, Cameroon had the last word when Mbia shot home from 12 metres after Joel Epalle headed on Geremi’s thrown-in in the second minute of extra time.

“It’s not easy to play a team like Cameroon, they are physically very strong,” Lemerre told reporters.

“The good physical preparation of our opponents was the main reason for the Cameroon win.”

Cameroon coach Otto Pfister emphasised his team’s goalscoring prowess on a day when Samuel Eto’o failed to hit the target.

“We scored five against Zambia, three against Sudan and we have scored another three days today,” he said.

“We have only two days to rest before the semi-final against Ghana but tonight we will sleep well, we have medical staff and we will be ready.”In Kumasi, a fortunate bounce off the body of striker Amr Zaki was enough to give Egypt a 2-1 win to retain hopes of a successful title defence.

“We are looking forward to playing the Ivorians and all our players are fighting to keep the title,” Egypt’s assistant coach Shawky Gharib told reporters.

Egypt opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Angola captain Andre jumped up to block a free kick on the edge of the penalty area and the ball hit his hand, giving away a penalty.

Hosni Abd Rabou converted for his fourth goal of the tournament.

The lead lasted all of four minutes before Manucho thundered home a cracking left-footed shot from outside the area.—Reuters