Salah edges towards AFCON success as Egypt eliminate title holders Ivory Coast
Mohamed Salah found the net as Egypt secured a 3-2 victory to knock out the reigning champions Ivory Coast from the Africa Cup of Nations in an exciting quarter-final encounter on Saturday.
Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia scored for Egypt, followed by an own goal from Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh before the interval.
Salah moved nearer to claiming his initial Africa Cup of Nations title medal by making it 2-1 shortly after the restart, with Guela Doue replying for Ivory Coast.
Egypt are set to play Senegal on Wednesday in Tangiers, where the victors will take on either hosts Morocco or Nigeria in the final four days afterwards.
The win in Agadir highlighted Egypts superiority over Ivory Coast in AFCON clashes since their initial meeting 56 years back. The Pharaohs have triumphed 11 times while the Elephants have managed just one victory.
Ivory Coast join the eighth straight set of champions failing to retain their crown since Egypt last did so in 2010.
Salah has guided Liverpool to Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League, and Club World Cup honours in its former guise, yet the top African accolade remains out of reach.
The 33-year-old has finished as runner-up on two occasions following defeats in the AFCON final against Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal in 2021. He also featured in Egyptian squads that suffered surprise round-of-16 departures twice.
Presently, he stands two games from fulfilling his enduring ambition of leading Egypt to a record-breaking eighth AFCON crown.
Salah joined the flagship African tournament in Morocco amid doubts about his Liverpool tenure after a sideline rant post a stalemate with Leeds United.
The Egyptian, benched after a string of subpar performances by the Anfield side, stated he had been "thrown under the bus".
Sharp form
However, he has returned to his lethal sharpness at the AFCON, netting the decisive strikes versus Zimbabwe and South Africa during the group phase, plus the clincher in a last-16 win over Benin.
On Saturday, Egypt went ahead merely 182 seconds into the match via Manchester City forward Marmoush.
Ivory Coast surrendered the ball, Emam Ashour supplied an excellent pass, and Marmoush capitalised on Odilon Kossounous stumble to fire past keeper Yahia Fofana.
Egypt extended their advantage on 32 minutes as defender Rabia rose highest over Ibrahim Sangare at the back post off a Salah corner, his arcing header finding the target beyond Fofana.
The holders seemed shaken and required a response. It arrived after 40 minutes via Aboul-Fetouhs own goal.
Teenage RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande curled a free kick into the centre of the six-yard area, Kossounou headed it on target, and it crossed the line off Aboul-Fetouhs body.
Salah re-established Egypts two-goal cushion only seven minutes into the second period, with Ashour of continental powerhouse Al Ahly again providing the assist.
The playmaker collected the ball on the left flank, and his dipping, arcing delivery was spot on for Salah to steer home under duress from Ghislain Konan.
Ivory Coast, who staged a comeback from two goals down to defeat Gabon in the groups, reduced the arrears once more after 73 minutes.
Egypt could not defend a corner, and Doue nudged the ball beyond veteran keeper Mohamed El Shenawy to create a nervy conclusion.