Mohamed Salah scored as Egypt gained 3-2 to dump defending champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations in an exhilarating quarter-final on Saturday.
Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia netted for Egypt, then Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh conceded an personal purpose earlier than half-time.
Salah then edged nearer to a primary Africa Cup of Nations winners’ medal by doubling the lead quickly after the break earlier than Guela Doue pulled a purpose again for Ivory Coast.
Egypt will face Senegal on Wednesday in Tangiers, with the winners assembly hosts Morocco or Nigeria 4 days later within the remaining.
The triumph in Agadir confirmed the AFCON dominance of Egypt over the Ivory Coast since they first met 56 years in the past. The Pharaohs have gained 11 instances and the Elephants simply as soon as.
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Ivory Coast turned the eighth consecutive titleholders unable to efficiently defend the title since Egypt achieved the feat in 2010.
Salah has helped Liverpool win the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League and Membership World Cup, in its earlier format, however probably the most prized African medal has eluded him.
The 33-year-old has twice been a runner-up after losses within the AFCON remaining to Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal 5 years later. He was additionally in Egyptian groups that twice made sudden last-16 exits.
Now he’s two matches away from realising his long-time dream of serving to Egypt win the AFCON a record-extending eighth time.
Salah arrived in Morocco for the premier African sporting occasion amid uncertainty over his future at Liverpool after a post-match outburst following a draw at Leeds United.
The Egyptian, demoted to the substitutes’ bench after a run of poor outcomes by the Anfield outfit, claimed he had been “thrown below the bus”.
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However he has been again to his predatory finest on the AFCON, scoring the match-winner towards Zimbabwe and South Africa on the group stage, then the purpose that sealed a last-16 victory over Benin.
On Saturday, Egypt took the lead simply 182 seconds after the kick-off via Manchester Metropolis striker Marmoush.
Ivory Coast misplaced possession, Emam Ashour delivered an outstanding move and Marmoush took benefit of Odilon Kossounou slipping to beat goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.
Egypt elevated their lead on 32 minutes when centre-back Rabia soared above Ibrahim Sangare on the far publish to fulfill a Salah nook, and his looping header beat Fofana.
The defending champions had been rattled and wanted to attain. It got here after 40 minutes when Egyptian Aboul-Fetouh conceded an personal purpose.
Yan Diomande, the 19-year-old RB Leipzig striker, floated a free kick into the guts of the six-yard field, Kossounou nodded the ball goalwards, and it entered the online off the midriff of Aboul-Fetouh.
Salah restored Egypt’s two-goal lead simply seven minutes into the second half, and as soon as once more, Ashour from African membership giants Al Ahly was the creator.
The midfielder gained possession on the left wing, and his low, curved cross was completely weighted for Salah to push the ball into the online regardless of being below strain from Ghislain Konan.
Ivory Coast, which overcame a two-goal deficit to beat Gabon in a bunch match, as soon as once more halved the deficit after 73 minutes.
Egypt did not clear a nook, and Doue flicked the ball previous 37-year-old goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy to arrange a tense end.
