Egypt have qualified for the semifinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after securing a dramatic 3-2 victory over defending champions Ivory Coast in their quarterfinal clash at Agadir on Saturday, Bold Sports reports.
The Pharaohs took control of the entertaining match by opening up a two-goal advantage, only for Ivory Coast to respond and ensure a gripping second-half battle. Mohamed Salah extended the lead shortly after the break, and while Doué’s late goal sparked a brief scare, Egypt held on to clinch the victory.
Ivory Coast endured a nightmare start as they fell behind in the fourth minute. The Elephants were punished when Hamdy Fathy pounced to win possession in midfield, before Emam Ashour played a clever through ball forward. Marmoush stole in from the blindside of Kossounou to grab the ball and kept his nerve to slot a composed finish into the bottom-right corner, giving his side a 1–0 lead.
Looking to respond immediately, Ivory Coast began to push for an equaliser but conceded another goal in the 32nd minute as Mohammed Salah’s corner found Ramy Rabia in the back post who climbed high and headed the ball back across goal and into the net.
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Ivory Coast reduced the deficit in the 40th minute from a freekick. Diomande bent in a superb delivery from the left, which Odilon Kossounou flicked on at the near post before the ball struck El Fotouh and bounced in, making it 2-1 going into half time.
Few minutes into the second half, Egypt regained their two-goal advantage through Mohammed Salah after a wonderful counter-attacking move. The move began with Ramy Rabia who played the ball over the top for Emam Ashour. The midfielder latched onto it and played a superb trivela pass across the penalty area to Salah who poked the ball back across goal and into the bottom-left corner, making it 3-1.
Ivory Coast refused to bow out without a fight and got a goal back from another set piece in the 73rd minute to make it 3-2. This time, a corner kick was played to the back post where substitute Krasso headed it powerfully back into the danger area, and right-back Guela Doue eventually flicked the ball into the net after a scramble in the box.
Despite the Elephant’s late attempts to get another goal, Egypt held on to secure victory, eliminating the defending champions and setting up a tough semifinal clash against Senegal on Wednesday, January 14.
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