In a pulsating Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal at the Grand Stade in Agadir, Egypt survived a roller-coaster clash with defending champions Ivory Coast to reach the semifinals with a 3-2 victory on Saturday.
The Pharaohs exploded out of the blocks inside four minutes when Omar Marmoush capitalised on a precise through ball from Emam Ashour, calmly slotting home to put Egypt ahead.
Egypt doubled their cushion in the 32nd minute as Ramy Rabia rose to head Mohamed Salah’s corner past the Ivorian defence, giving Egypt firm control of the contest before halftime.
Just before the break, however, Ivory Coast grabbed a lifeline when Egypt full-back Ahmed Abou El Fotouh diverted the ball into his own net, reducing the deficit and reigniting Elephants’ hopes.
The drama peaked in the second half as Mohamed Salah, Egypt’s talisman, restored the two-goal advantage with a deft finish in the 52nd minute, turning home another Ashour assist and sending the jubilant Egyptian support into raptures.
Despite Ivory Coast’s spirited fightback and intense pressure late on, Egypt held on to book a semifinal date with another African powerhouse, underscoring their resilience and attacking threat at AFCON 2025.
The encounter showcased classic AFCON drama, blending swift attacking play, twists before halftime and individual brilliance from Salah to seal Egypt’s spot in the last four of the continent’s premier tournament.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Follow us on:
