CAIRO: Egypt reached the African Olympic Games after thrashing Ethiopia 4-0 at home on Sunday to advance with a 4-2 aggregate victory.

The Pharaohs came on with all guns blazing in order to overcome their 2-0 defeat in the first-leg.

Defender Karim Zekri opened the score line after eight minutes when he met Ahmed Samir Farag s cross at the far post with a superb diving header into the back of the net.

Abdullah Al-Saied doubled the lead from the penalty spot four minutes before the break after Farag was brought down inside the area.

Two minutes after restart, Ahmed Abdul-Zaher s shot from close range was denied by the crossbar.

Greece-based left-back Amr Al-Halawani added the third three minutes past the hour mark following a superb individual effort as he side-stepped two defenders and went clear on one-on-one before chipping the ball over the keeper from a tight angle.

Mohamed Ragab put the icing on the cake seven minutes from time when he latched on to Shikabala s left and slotted home.

The victory will boost the players morale ahead of their crucial clash against Ivory Coast in the second-leg of the Beijing Olympic Games qualifiers late in March.

Egypt needs to grab a win away from home if they are to reach the qualifiers group stage as they were held to a 1-1 home draw in the first-leg.