Egypt produced a composed and clinical performance to defeat defending champions Ivory Coast 3-2 in a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations 2025 quarter-final. Mohamed Salah once again led from the front, scoring, creating, and earning the Man of the Match award as the Pharaohs progressed to the semi-finals.
The North Africans wasted no time asserting themselves. After just four minutes, Omar Marmoush capitalised on a lapse in concentration from Odilon Kossounou. He won possession outside the penalty area and finished confidently past Yahia Fofana. From that moment, Egypt never looked back.
Set-Pieces Prove Decisive
Ivory Coast tried to respond but continued to look vulnerable at the back. Soon after, Hossam Abdelmaguid almost doubled Egypt’s lead when Fofana failed to deal with a dangerous free-kick.
That warning went unheeded. Moments later, just after the half-hour mark, Egypt struck again. Mohamed Salah swung in a wicked corner, sparking chaos inside the box. Ramy Rabia attacked the far post and powered a header goalwards, the ball taking a slight deflection before looping over Fofana to make it 2–0.
Despite their defensive problems, the Elephants stayed in the contest. Five minutes before half-time, Ivory Coast found a lifeline when Ahmed Fatouh turned the ball into his own net. The goal followed Yan Diomande’s whipped free-kick, which a teammate flicked on at the near post and restored belief among the Ivory Coast players.
Salah Shines and Rewrites the Record Books
However, any hopes of a comeback faded early in the second half. Just seven minutes after the restart, Rabia clipped a precise pass over the defence. Emam Ashour timed his run perfectly before squaring the ball to Salah, who showed strength and composure to toe-poke Egypt’s third goal.
That strike crowned another outstanding display. Salah now boasts four goals and one assist at AFCON 2025. Moreover, he moved to 11 Africa Cup of Nations goals for Egypt, drawing level with the national record held by his head coach, Hossam Hassan. Fittingly, officials recognised his influence with the Man of the Match award.
Late Pressure but Egypt Hold Firm
Ivory Coast refused to surrender. In the 73rd minute, Guela Doue produced a clever backheeled finish from close range following sustained pressure from a corner. The goal set up a tense final period.
The Agadir crowd urged the holders forward. Egypt, however, stayed organized and disciplined. Unlike their previous five AFCON knockout matches, there was no extra-time this time.
What the Result Means
The victory keeps Egypt’s pursuit of an eighth AFCON title alive. Salah’s quest for a first continental crown continues. The Pharaohs now travel to Tangier to face Senegal in a highly anticipated semi-final on Wednesday, with revenge and a place in the final on the line.
