Egypt and Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations: Match date and coach statements
The eyes of football fans across Africa and the Arab world are turning towards Moroccan stadiums, where the Egyptian national team, the historic champion of the Africa Cup of Nations, is preparing for a heavyweight clash against their counterpart, the Ivory Coast national team, the defending champion, in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. This highly anticipated match next Saturday is considered an "early final" between two of the strongest teams on the continent.
Amid preparations for this footballing spectacle, Emerson Faye, the coach of the Ivory Coast national team, gave a press interview to the French channel Canal+, revealing the outlines of his strategy for facing the Pharaohs. Faye emphasized that the coaching staff is fully aware of the magnitude of the responsibility, indicating that the defensive plan will not be limited to closely marking the global star Mohamed Salah, but will also include dealing cautiously and rigorously with all the key players in the Egyptian team. Faye said: "Our focus will not be solely on Mohamed Salah, but on the entire Egyptian team. We will prepare the team for a strong collective performance, and we hope to reach the semi-finals.".
This encounter carries profound historical and technical dimensions. Egypt seeks to extend its record and add an eighth star to its jersey, building on a long history of continental dominance. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast is enjoying a period of exceptional form, with the Elephants aiming to retain the title for a second consecutive year and equal their previous achievements by lifting the trophy for the fourth time, following their victories in 1992, 2015, and 2023. The Ivorian team demonstrated its readiness with a resounding 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the Round of 16, sending a strong warning to its rivals.
On the other hand, Egypt's captain, Mohamed Salah, continues to deliver exceptional performances in this tournament, reaffirming his status as the key player for the Egyptian national team. Salah has found the net in all three of his previous matches, scoring against Zimbabwe and South Africa in the group stage before adding a crucial goal against Benin in the round of 16. This impressive form places Salah second in the race for the tournament's Golden Boot, just one goal behind Morocco's Brahim Diaz, adding an exciting individual dimension to the overall competition.
The match holds immense regional and international significance, not only because of the caliber of the participating stars, but also because the winner will take a significant step towards the title. The victor of this encounter is scheduled to face the winner of the other semi-final between Senegal and Mali next Wednesday, meaning the road to the podium in Morocco will be anything but easy, requiring them to overcome some of the strongest footballing nations in West and North Africa.
