DUBAI (Reuters) - Egypt are eyeing the 2010 World Cup finals after clinching a record sixth African Nations victory.

"We will make it to the World Cup. Winning the African Cup of Nations proved that we are able to play against and beat very strong teams," 25-year-old striker Mohamed Zidan told Reuters on the sidelines of a victory celebration in Dubai.

A throng of young girls, some with the Egyptian flag painted on their faces, screamed at the top of their voices "Zizou" while reaching out to the player who set up the winning goal for teammate Mohammed Aboutrika in the final in Accra on Sunday.

The North African team retained their title by beating four-time champions Cameroon 1-0 but Egypt have only reached the World Cup finals twice -- in Italy in 1934 and 1990.

The next World Cup, in South Africa, will be the first played on African soil.

"The Egyptian team is a very strong team and winning Africa's tournament proved that. In the next phase, we will come closer to the World Cup," Coach Hassan Shehata said.

The team was honoured in the United Arab Emirates trade and tourism hub on Tuesday night in a celebration sponsored by the ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.

The players shook hands with Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan as confetti flew around in the air and fireworks went off overhead at al-Ahli Club stadium.

Dressed in black-and-white track suits, the Pharaohs jogged around the field, blowing kisses and waving at some 2,000 cheering spectators.

The crowd banged drums, blew whistles and chanted "no one is as good as our national team" as others rolled out a huge Egyptian flag, covering about 100 people.

"I am happy to be here in Dubai. It's a great thing; this is the first honour we get after the tournament and it's outside of our country," Aboutrika told reporters.

"We felt the happiness of the people when we were arriving in the bus and we saw them making victory signs and waving flags."

(Editing by Alan Baldwin)