MOHAMED Salah moved closer to elusive Africa Cup of Nations glory as Egypt dethroned defending champions Ivory Coast with a thrilling 3-2 quarter-final victory.
The Pharaohs took a lightning-fast lead after just 182 seconds through Omar Marmoush, who capitalised on a defensive slip to beat goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.
Ramy Rabia doubled Egypt’s advantage on 32 minutes with a looping header from a Salah corner.
Ivory Coast pulled a goal back before half-time when Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Odilon Kossounou.
Salah restored Egypt’s two-goal cushion just seven minutes into the second half, finishing a low cross from Emam Ashour.
Guela Doue set up a tense finale by pulling another goal back for the Elephants with 17 minutes remaining, but Egypt held on for a famous win.
The triumph in Agadir confirmed Egypt’s historical dominance over Ivory Coast, with the Pharaohs now boasting 11 wins to their opponents’ one since their first meeting 56 years ago.
“I’m so happy with this win and reaching the semi-finals,” said Salah after the match.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan praised his players as “true Egyptians who fight for the happiness of their people”.
The victory means Ivory Coast become the eighth consecutive title-holders to fail to defend the trophy since Egypt last achieved the feat in 2010.
Salah has now scored four goals at the tournament, having also netted winners against Zimbabwe, South Africa and Benin in earlier rounds.
The 33-year-old Liverpool star has twice been an AFCON runner-up, losing finals to Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal in 2022.
He is now two matches away from helping Egypt win a record-extending eighth continental title.
Egypt will face Senegal in the semi-finals in Tangiers on Wednesday.
The winners of that clash will meet either hosts Morocco or Nigeria in the final four days later.