Cameroon's Tchato says best team won the Cup

ACCRA (Reuters) - Cameroon admitted they lost to the strongest team after they went down 1-0 to Egypt in Sunday's African Nations Cup final.

The Indomitable Lions were dominated throughout and, in the 77th minute, a blunder by captain Rigobert Song allowed Mohamed Zidan to square the ball to Mohamed Aboutrika, who fired home from close range.

Holders Egypt were long denied by Cameroon keeper Idriss Carlos Kameni, who pulled off some superb saves to keep the Pharaohs at bay.

Samuel Eto'o, who holds the Nations Cup scoring record with 16 goals, was alone up front and failed to find the net for the third successive game.

"We have to congratulate Egypt, they deserve their victory," said Cameroon defender Bill Tchato, who was deputising for Andre Bikey, suspended after picking up a red card in the semi-final against Ghana.

"In fairness, the best team won," he added.

Egypt, who beat Cameroon 4-2 in their opening group game, also thrashed hot favourites Ivory Coast 4-1 in the semi-finals.

"They have had a great tournament and we must not forget they were the holders," said Tchato.

"And their victory two years ago was no fluke."

Egypt, who won the tournament in Cairo in 2006, took their record to six titles in Ghana.

Cameroon full back Geremi said the team were satisfied with their overall performance.

"Nobody likes to lose, especially the final, but the positive thing is that we got to the final in the first place because many people did not give us a chance of getting there but we fought hard to get that far," he said.

Following their opening match defeat to Egypt, Cameroon beat Zambia and Sudan to finish second in their group before knocking out Tunisia 3-2 after extra time in the quarter-finals and hosts Ghana 1-0 in their semi-final.

However, Tchato refused to put the defeat down to a lack of fitness.

"We have been playing with our heart and that is what matters in such a tournament," he said.

(Editing by Rex Gowar)