Egypt defeats Ivory Coast 3-2 and will face Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final
The Egyptian national football team secured its place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations currently being held in Morocco, after achieving a marathon and exciting victory over its counterpart, the Ivory Coast national team, by three goals to two, in the football summit that was hosted by the “Adrar” stadium in the city of Agadir on Saturday evening.
A fiery start and Egyptian dominance
The Pharaohs entered the match with clear attacking intentions, and Omar Marmoush, who has been shining in European leagues, needed only four minutes to open the scoring with a low, driven shot that capitalized on a glaring defensive lapse by the Elephants. The Egyptians continued their attacking pressure, and defender Rami Rabia converted their dominance into a second goal in the 32nd minute with a perfectly placed header, confirming the Egyptian team's superiority at set pieces.
Despite the control, the Ivorian team returned to the atmosphere of the match before the whistle of the end of the first half, benefiting from friendly fire after the left-back Ahmed Fatouh accidentally turned the ball into his own net in the 40th minute, ending the first half with a worrying Egyptian lead of 2-1.
Salah decides the summit clash... and a late comeback for the Elephants
As the second half began, captain Mohamed Salah made his presence felt, scoring the third goal in the 52nd minute with a powerful shot from inside the box after a brilliant team move and a decisive pass from Emam Ashour. This extended Egypt's lead and brought them closer to the semi-finals. Ivory Coast, the defending champions, attempted a comeback, and Gilles Doué managed to reduce the deficit with a beautiful backheel goal in the 73rd minute. However, Egypt's solid defense held firm, securing their qualification until the final whistle.
Consecrating the historical complex
This victory further cements the "historical complex" that the Egyptian national team represents for their Ivorian counterparts in continental competitions. Looking back at the records, the Pharaohs have continued their overwhelming dominance, securing their 11th victory out of 12 encounters between the two giants in the tournament. Memories recall some unforgettable Egyptian triumphs, most notably the penalty shootout victory in the 2006 final and the resounding 4-1 win over the Elephants in the 2008 semi-final, proving that the Egyptian character always rises to the occasion in major matches against Côte d'Ivoire.
A revenge match against the Lions of Teranga
With this precious victory, the Egyptian national team secured a fiery encounter with Senegal next Wednesday in the semi-finals. This match carries special significance beyond simply being a stepping stone to the final; it represents a top-tier revenge match for Mohamed Salah and his teammates, who are seeking redemption after losing the 2021 final in Cameroon to the "Lions of Teranga" on penalties, as well as the play-off match for qualification to the 2022 World Cup. All eyes in Africa will be on Morocco to witness this "early final" between the continent's historic leader and the former champion.
