African Nations Cup final -- Nigeria 2 Cameroon 2

Cameroon win 4-3 on penalties

Cameroon won the African Nations Cup to provoke violence outside the Lagos stadium as Nigerian fans clashed with riot police after their side lost a penalty shootout.

The 4-3 defeat on penalties may have been different if Viktor Ikpeba's penalty had not been ruled out after it appeared to cross the line.

In 120 minutes both teams had drawn 2-2 in an exciting game but the Nigerian fans have again damaged the tournament with displays of violence that have embarrassed the CAF as they push forward offers from Morocco and South to host the 2006 World Cup finals.

Nigerian police have dismissed claims of a major incident outside the ground but tear gas was used to disperse the crowd at the Surelere stadium after Nigeria had come back from 2-0 down to give themselves a chance of a victory.

The decisive moment also angered the crowd as Viktor Ikpeba's fourth penalty of the shootout competition was shrouded in controversy.

Ikpeba hit a high penalty that struck the underside of the crossbar and dropped just over the line but referee Mourad Daami disallowed the goal to allow Cameroon defender Rigobert Song to drive a high shot into the net to decide the destination of the trophy. Cameroon have won their last three appearances in the final against Nigeria but looked to have let their chance of success in the 2000 tournament slip away after letting a two goal lead slip away in a frantic match.

Nigeria needed to act quickly after a poor start to the game and Raphael Chukwu gave them some hope just before half time after he got clear on the left hand side of the penalty area and drove and low shot into the far corner of the net.

Austin Okocha ignited the 60,000 home fans with a devastating power shot from the edge of the area just two minute into the second half to bring the game to an impasse that only the penalty shootout could settle.

Cameroon came good at the finish and started the game very well.

Samuel Eto'o latched onto a loose ball to finish from close range at the right hand side of the goal in the 26th minute with Patrick Mboma embarrassing Nigerian goalkeeper Ike Shoronmu in the 31st minute as his speculative half hit shot trundled over the ground and between the goalkeeper's legs to reach the net.

Nigeria failed to recover in the shootout after Cameroon goalkeeper Boukar Alioum had parried Nwankwo Kanu second penalty for the co-hosts to all but end their hopes of the title.