Pharaohs end Ivory Coast’s Afcon reign

Egypt have ended Ivory Coast’s reign as Africa Cup of Nations champions after claiming a thrilling 3-2 win in the teams’ quarterfinal clash at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir on Saturday night.

The Pharaohs established 2-0 and 3-1 leads, but the Elephants struck back twice to ensure a tense battle right to the death, but ultimately the North Africans clung on to enhance their hopes of a record-extending eighth Afcon crown.

Egypt got off to an absolute flyer, claiming the lead in just the fourth minute. Omar Marmoush used his speed and aggression to beat Odilon Kossounou to Emam Ashour’s through ball, before striking a low shot beyond goalkeeper Yahia Fofana for 1-0.

Ivory Coast responded well to going behind, dialling up the pace and intensity of their play to put Egypt under pressure. Amad Diallo had a great chance to draw his team level in the 17th minute after great work from Yan Diomande, but his shot on goal was heroically blocked by a combination of Rami Rabia and Ahmed Fatouh.

Further half chances went the way of Yan Diomande and Evann Guessand, before the North Africans doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark: Mohamed Salah’s corner kick found the head of Rami Rabia, whose looping header arched beyond the reach of Fofana before dropping into the back of the net for 2-0.

Ivory Coast needed a response before the interval and they forced a goal in the 40th minute, with Diomande’s in-swinging free kick delivery flicked on by Kossounou before being bundled into his own net by the unfortunate Fatouh.

However, the North African giants restored a two-goal advantage just seven minutes into the second stanza, with Salah stabbing home at close range for 3-1 after a brilliant outside-of-the-foot assist from the left flank by Emam Ashour.

Ivory Coast pulled another goal back in the 73rd minute, with substitute Jean-Philippe Krasso’s header from a corner kick causing mayhem in the Egypt goalmouth, before Guela Doue poked home from close range to make it 3-2.

The Elephants laid siege to the Egypt box in the dying minutes in search of an equaliser, but they were left frustrated.

The Pharaohs will face Senegal in the first semifinal on Wednesday 14 January, set for the Tangier Grand Stadium.

Egypt (2) 3 (Marmoush 4’, Rabia 32’, Salah 52’)

Ivory Coast (1) 2 (Fatouh OG 40’, Doue 73’)

Egypt: M. El Shenawy, M. Hany, Y. Ibrahim, R. Rabia, A. Fatouh, M. Attia, H. Abdelmaguid, H. Fathy, E. Ashour (Trezeguet 79’), M. Salah, O. Marmoush (M. Mohamed 90+2’)

Ivory Coast: Y. Fofana, G. Doue, O. Kossounou, E. Ndicka, G. Konan, C. Inao Oulai (S. Fofana 90’), I. Sangare, F. Kessie (J. Krasso 70’), A. Diallo, E. Guessand (V. Bayo 80’), Y. Diomande (B. Toure 90’)