Goalkeeper Gabaski was the hero, saving two penalties as Egypt edged past hosts Cameroon in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw to set up an Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal.
Sunday's final sets up a tantalising meeting between Liverpool forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane at the same venue - the Olembe Stadium in Cameroon's capital Yaounde (kick-off 19:00 GMT).
Hosts Cameroon had shown more impetus in 90 minutes, twice hitting the post through Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui's looping header and Samuel Gouet's thunderous long-range strike, which flicked the woodwork.
Egypt's star man Salah was kept quiet for much of the game, curling a strike from outside the area narrowly over and almost profiting from a loose back pass, but he could not convert.
But he did not have to step up in the shootout as Cameroon missed three of their efforts, with Gabaski saving from Harold Moukoudi and James Lea Siliki, while Clinton N'Jie side-footed wide.
An ill-tempered ending to normal time had seen Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz sent off for remonstrating with the referee and his assistant Wael Gomaa cautioned too.
It means they will both be missing from the touchline for the final as Gomaa was also yellow carded in the quarter-final against Morocco.
Meanwhile, Cameroon will face Burkina Faso in the third/fourth-place play-off, which has been brought forward a day to Saturday (19:00 GMT).
More to follow.
Line-ups
Cameroon
Formation 3-4-3
24Onana
21Castelletto5Ngadeu25Tolo
19Fai8Zambo Anguissa14Oum Gouet18Hongla
3Moumi Ngamaleu10Aboubakar12Toko Ekambi
24Onana21CastellettoSubstituted forMoukoudiat 99'minutes5Ngadeu25Tolo19Fai8Zambo Anguissa14Oum GouetBooked at 61minsSubstituted forLéa Silikiat 80'minutes18HonglaSubstituted forOnanaat 108'minutes3Moumi NgamaleuSubstituted forN'Jieat 86'minutes10Aboubakar12Toko EkambiSubstituted forBassogogat 98'minutesSubstitutes
4Moukoudi6Oyongo7N'Jie9Bahoken11Bassogog13Choupo-Moting15Kunde16Epassy20Ganago23Omossola26Onana27Léa SilikiEgypt
Formation 4-3-3
16Abou Gabal Ali
3Abdel Wahed2Abdelmonem Elsayed Mohamed Ahmed15Hamdi13Mohamed
17Elneny5Abdul Fattah4El Soleya
10Salah14Ahmed Abdallah22Marmoush
16Abou Gabal Ali3Abdel WahedBooked at 37minsSubstituted forAbdelghanyat 85'minutes2Abdelmonem Elsayed Mohamed Ahmed15Hamdi13Mohamed17ElnenyBooked at 61minsSubstituted forAhmed Abdelmonemat 86'minutes5Abdul Fattah4El SoleyaSubstituted forTrézéguetat 45'minutes10Salah14Ahmed AbdallahSubstituted forMohamed Ragaei Bakrat 105'minutesSubstituted forSayedat 118'minutes22MarmoushSubstituted forSobhiat 63'minutesSubstitutes
7Trézéguet8Abdelghany9Mohamed Ragaei Bakr11Sobhi12Ashraf18Ahmed Abdelmonem19Bekhit20Eldin Mahmoud Ibrahim21Sayed23Daader24Ahmed28MehanyLive Text
Match ends, Cameroon 0(1), Egypt 0(3).
Penalty Shootout ends, Cameroon 0(1), Egypt 0(3).
Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Clinton N'Jie (Cameroon) right footed shot is close, but misses to the right. Clinton N'Jie should be disappointed.
Goal! Cameroon 0(1), Egypt 0(3). Mohanad Lasheen (Egypt) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Penalty saved! James Léa Siliki (Cameroon) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, left footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
Goal! Cameroon 0(1), Egypt 0(2). Mohamed Abdelmonem (Egypt) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
Penalty saved! Harold-Desty Moukoudi (Cameroon) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
Goal! Cameroon 0(1), Egypt 0(1). Zizo (Egypt) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Goal! Cameroon 0(1), Egypt 0. Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Penalty Shootout begins Cameroon 0, Egypt 0.
Second Half Extra Time ends, Cameroon 0, Egypt 0.
Substitution, Egypt. Zizo replaces Mohamed Sherif.
Harold-Desty Moukoudi (Cameroon) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Mohamed Sherif (Egypt).
Corner, Cameroon. Conceded by Trézéguet.
Corner, Cameroon. Conceded by Mohamed Abdelmonem.
Attempt blocked. James Léa Siliki (Cameroon) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Vincent Aboubakar.
Substitution, Cameroon. Jean Onana replaces Martin Hongla.
Second Half Extra Time begins Cameroon 0, Egypt 0.
Substitution, Egypt. Mohamed Sherif replaces Mostafa Mohamed.
