Egypt Triumphs Over Ivory Coast to Secure Semifinal Spot in Africa Cup of Nations

In a thrilling quarterfinal of the Africa Cup of Nations, Mohamed Salah netted his fourth goal of the tournament, leading Egypt to a 3-2 victory over defending champions Ivory Coast in Agadir. This win propels Egypt into the semifinals, where they will face Sadio Mane’s Senegal on Wednesday.

The Pharaohs, vying for their first title since 2010, established an early lead through Omar Marmoush, who skillfully finished a move initiated by Hamdy Fathy’s interception of Franck Kessie’s pass. Just after the half-hour mark, Rami Rabia extended Egypt’s lead by heading home from a Salah corner, putting his team ahead 2-0.

Ivory Coast managed to pull one back just before halftime through an own goal by Ahmed Abou El Fotouh, providing them a glimmer of hope. However, Salah swiftly restored Egypt’s two-goal advantage in the 52nd minute, converting a precise through ball from Emam Ashour. Guela Doue’s clever heel-flick in the 73rd minute reignited hope for the Elephants, but they ultimately fell short, unable to find an equalizer.

The match began with Marmoush’s impressive curled effort in the fourth minute, setting a challenging tone for Ivory Coast. Despite a shaky start, the Ivorians attempted to reclaim control but struggled to regain their previous form. After a series of fouls and tactical substitutions aimed at reviving their momentum, Ivory Coast’s persistence led to Doue’s opportunistic goal.

In the face of mounting pressure, Egypt adopted a defensive strategy, effectively disrupting the Ivorian attack while managing the clock. Late attempts from substitutes, including a promising header from Vakoun Bayo, were thwarted by Egypt’s goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, sealing the match and ending Ivory Coast’s title defense after five games.

With this victory, Salah’s aspirations for an Africa Cup of Nations title gain momentum as Egypt gears up for a challenging semifinal against Senegal, a rematch of the 2019 final.