Mohamed Salah Leads Egypt Past Holders Ivory Coast in AFCON Quarter-Final Thriller

Mohamed Salah struck the decisive goal as Egypt brought Ivory Coast’s reign as Africa Cup of Nations champions to an end with a dramatic 3-2 victory in Saturday’s quarter-final.

Omar Marmoush and centre-back Rami Rabia were also on target for the Pharaohs, who produced a clinical display at the Stade Adrar in Agadir to secure a semi-final showdown with Senegal on Wednesday. Despite enjoying limited possession, Egypt defended resolutely and made their opportunities count against the defending champions.

Ivory Coast, who lifted the trophy on home soil two years ago, were undone by an own goal from Ahmed Fatouh and a late strike from Guéla Doué, which proved insufficient to prevent their exit from the tournament.

Egypt, seven-time winners of the competition, made a lightning-fast start. Just four minutes in, Hamdi Fathy won possession in midfield from Franck Kessié, allowing Emam Ashour to release Marmoush with a perfectly weighted pass. The forward shrugged off Odilon Kossounou before calmly finishing to give Egypt an early lead.

The Ivorians quickly established dominance in possession, using their physicality to control large spells of the game, but struggled to translate that superiority into clear-cut chances.

Egypt doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute when Rabia climbed highest to power home a header from a corner, punishing Ivory Coast despite their territorial control.

The holders pulled one back eight minutes later. A free-kick from teenager Yann Diomande near the corner flag glanced off Kossounou and deflected off Fatouh’s knee, looping into the net to reduce the deficit before half-time. Ivory Coast had enjoyed close to 70 per cent possession in the opening period, but still trailed at the break.

Any hopes of a sustained comeback were dented shortly after the restart by a moment of Egyptian brilliance. Rabia, positioned deep inside his own half, lofted a precise ball over the Ivorian defence for Ashour, who delivered an inch-perfect outside-of-the-boot pass into the path of Salah. The Liverpool forward finished with composure to restore Egypt’s two-goal cushion seven minutes into the second half.

Ivory Coast refused to relent and were handed renewed belief in the 73rd minute when Doué turned the ball home from close range following a goalmouth scramble.

That goal sparked an intense late siege on the Egyptian penalty area, but Egypt held firm during the final 15 minutes, repelling wave after wave of pressure to book their place in the last four.

Earlier on Saturday, Nigeria produced a dominant performance to defeat Algeria 2-0 in Marrakech. The Super Eagles will face tournament hosts Morocco in the other semi-final.