Mohamed Salah’s dream of a first Africa Cup of Nations title is continues after Egypt held off a late charge from defending champions Cote D’Ivoire to secure a 3-2 win and seal a place in the semi-finals of the competition on Saturday (10 January).
The Pharoahs laid down an early marker in Agadir and made their intentions clear from the outset when Omar Marmoush forced Ivorian defender Odilon Kossounou into an early mistake before racing clear to put Egypt ahead inside four minutes.
Côte d’Ivoire, who had looked composed all tournament until now, were rattled by Egypt’s fast start and tried to gain a foothold in the game as Egypt maintained their momentum.
The Elephants almost found a temporary reprieve from the early storm, but skipper Franck Kessie could only shoot wide after Amad Diallo’s effort was blocked in the 16th minute.
Egypt consolidated their advantage after 32 minutes when Rami Rabia met a Mohamed Salah corner kick to steer the Pharaohs further ahead.
However, Côte d’Ivoire found a way back into the contest when Yan Diomande’s fizzing delivery was turned goalwards by Ahmed Fatouh for an own goal in first-half stoppage time.
Egypt restored their two-goal advantage seven minutes after the break when Mohamed Salah applied the finishing touch to Ashour Emam’s outside-of-the-foot cross for his fourth goal of the tournament.
With a quarter of the game remaining, Doue Guela handed the Ivorians a lifeline following a goalmouth scramble to set up a grandstand finish.
Despite Côte d’Ivoire laying siege to Egypt’s half, the record seven-champions  held firm to book a semi-final clash with Senegal on January 14 in a repeat of the 2021 AFCON final.