ACCRA - Cameroon clinched a place in the African Nations Cup final by eliminating hosts Ghana but the game will be remembered for a mad moment involving Andre Bikey.
The Cameroon and Reading defender earned a straight red card for shoving a member of the medical staff who were attending his team-mate Rigobert Song in stoppage time and will miss the final as a result.
The Indomitable Lions led through Alain Nkong's second-half goal, scored after a brilliant piece of counter-attacking football which illuminated an otherwise drab semi-final.
The midfielder, who plays for Atlante in Mexico, latched on to a Samuel Eto'o through-ball after 71 minutes to score the winner.
Victory capped a remarkable turnaround for Cameroon, who began the competition with defeat to Egypt.
Ghana were forced to reorganise just minutes before kick-off when Hearts midfielder Laryea Kingston injured his ankle in the warm-up and he was replaced by Andre Ayew.
They were also without captain John Mensah after his sending-off in the last game and Michael Essien filled in at the heart of defence.
Ghana missed the first real chance after seven minutes when Eric Addo failed to connect with Sulley Muntari's free-kick from the left.
There was a scare for the home team when goalkeeper Richard Kingson came off second best to Eto'o as both jumped for Alexandre Song's teasing cross from the left. Fortunately for Ghana, the referee ruled Eto'o had fouled Kingson.
Cameroon created their first real opening midway through the half. Achille Emana did well to control the ball on the edge of the area but fired narrowly over.
Ayew then almost unlocked the Cameroon defence on the half-hour mark when he shrugged off three challenges before shooting low to the left but Idris Kameni dived full length to save.
Geremi's free-kick from 35 yards out shook Kingson's bar as a cagey first half drew to a close.
Ghana midfielder Anthony Annan was off target with a strike from the edge of the penalty area on the hour mark before John Pantsil put his header wide at the back post from a Muntari corner.
And Ayew's shot was headed over by Geremi after 70 minutes as the hosts piled on the pressure.
But Cameroon hit back a minute later to take the lead in a sweeping move involving substitute Joel Epalle, Eto'o and Nkong.
The Barcelona striker put Nkong through on the left and he slotted home from 12 yards out.
Kameni stretched one-handed to keep out Junior Agogo and keep Cameroon in front in the 78th minute.
Nottingham Forest striker Agogo then missed a close-range header after getting on the end of Muntari's pin-point free-kick from the left.
Cameroon attempted to play out time but there was a last piece of drama as Bikey cost himself a place in the final.
