An inspired substitution by Egypt coach Hassan Shehata saw the hosts beat Senegal 2-1 and reach the African Nations Cup final.
Amr Zaki got the decisive goal after a truly bizarre incident where Mido almost refused to leave the pitch when he was replaced by
the goalscorer and then had to be separated from the coach - the 74,000 supporters roared 'out! out!' at their displeasure at his antics.
There was even more controversy at the end as the referee Divine Evehe pointed to the penalty spot for a clear foul by Egyptian defender Ibrahim Dawoud but then rescinded it.
Earlier man of the match Ahmed Hasan had scored from the penalty spot - his third goal in two matches - before Mamadou Niang levelled with his second goal in two games.
Egypt forced their first corner in the ninth minute and almost opened the scoring from it as veteran defender Wael Gomaa rose above the defence but his header went over the bar. Two minutes later and captain Ahmed Hasan profited from a weak header but again his shot was too high.
Tempers became a bit frayed in the 18th minute as a surging run from Amdy Faye took him into the box but Egyptian keeper Essam El Hadary was equal to the challenge, though, not for the Newcastle midfielder clattering him with his studs which should have earned the Senegal player a booking.
Instead he got a shoving from Gomaa, but equally at the other end the lumbering Mido should have been booked for diving, earning his side a freekick after he fell dramatically to the ground despite not being touched by Souleymane Diawarra.
However a moment of unbelievable madness in the 37th minute by the previously impressive Frederic Mendy handed - literally - the hosts a much needed lift.
The tiny St Etienne midfielder handled the ball from the previously anonymous Mido's cross giving referee Divine Evehe no choice but to point to the spot. Hasan converted it but Evehe ruled it should be taken again but the ice cool captain simply shot it into the other corner with Tony Sylva rooted to the spot.
Sylva was similarly static when Mohammed Terika's terrific lob in the 50th minute went over him but fortunately it came off the bar and the Lille goalkeeper collected it.
However the Senegalese were holding tough and deservedly equalised a minute later as Niang got free of his marker Mohammed Shawky and headed into the far corner from Diatta's inch perfect freekick.
Mido didn't know whether he was coming or going as the 22-year-old Spurs striker alternated from floating onto the right wing or into the centre up front - but there was little excuse for his heading over in the 64th minute after a superb move stemming from Mohammed Terika and a great cross from Imad Motaeb.
Then came the Mido sulk and shout show as he pointed at himself in disbelief at seeing he was being replaced by Zaki and mouthed insults at Shehata as he strolled off the pitch and then had to be separated from the coach by Hossam Hassan. The crowd showed clearly what they thought of his behaviour by screaming in unison 'out out!'.
A minute later and Shehata's move proved a masterstroke as the tireless Terika got down the right and Zaki met his cross perfectly to head past Sylva.
