Guinea have only been playing again for 11 months

A 3-0 win took Guinea to the finals of the African Cup of Nations to complete a remarkable return to international competition.

Two goals from Souleymane Youla, and a well deserved strike from Pascal Feindouno, were more than enough to see off Ethiopia.

Guinea attacked from the start, knowing that a win - and even a draw - would be enough for qualification.

Feindouno was a constant menace down the right flank, giving the Ethiopian wing back perpetual problems, and he twice laid on inviting chances.

But Youla and the veteran Titi Camara missed the easy opportunities, and for a while it seemed Ethiopia would soak up the pressure and come into the game.

That illusion was shattered in the 32nd minute.

Once again Feindouno did the damage, slaloming down the right before hanging in a perfect cross that Youla headed home gleefully.

From that position it was always going to be very difficult for Ethiopia to get back into the game.

The Ethiopians did make a change at the restart, but the substitution had little effect.

Ten minutes into the second period Feindouno got the goal his wonderful performance deserved, and this time it was Youla was the provider.

Feindouno raced onto his colleague's acute pass, and turned home a far post finish that sent the capacity crowd into raptures.

Guinea's fans were overjoyed with the win

That joy only deepened when crowd favourite Titi Camara bamboozled two defenders and set up Youla for the game-clinching third.

The remaining 20 minutes were played in an atmosphere of pure joy, as the Guinean players showed off their tricks, certain they were on their way to Tunisia 2004.

When the final whistle blew, the Syli National players ran a lap of honour, celebrating their return to African football's top table after a six year absence.

The result was even more remarkable given that in 2001 the Guineans were prevented from playing by Fifa after the country's sports minister Abdelkader Sangare dissolved the Guinean FA.