Egypt's Pharaohs have done it again! They've soared into the semi-finals of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, stunning the reigning champions and setting the stage for a thrilling showdown. This victory is a testament to their grit and tactical prowess. Let's dive into the details of this electrifying match.
Published: Saturday, January 10, 2026
- Egypt has secured a spot in the semi-finals of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
- The Pharaohs are set to clash with the Lions of Teranga on Wednesday in Tangier.
- The other semi-final will see Morocco and Nigeria battling it out on Wednesday in Rabat.
Egypt 3 - 2 Cote d’Ivoire
Goal Scorers: O. Marmoush (4’), R. Rabia (32’), M. Salah (52’) / A. Fatou own goal (40’), G. Doué (73’)
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Egypt ultimately prevailing in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Cote d'Ivoire. The Pharaohs demonstrated their clinical efficiency, capitalizing on their opportunities against an Ivorian side that dominated possession.
The game ignited in the 4th minute when Omar Marmoush, expertly served by Emam Ashour, raced past the Ivorian defense to score the opening goal. But the Elephants quickly took control, relentlessly attacking the Egyptian goal. They peppered the Egyptian defense with crosses and attempts, but the Pharaohs, led by goalkeeper El Shenawy, stood firm.
Against the run of play, Ramy Rabia doubled the lead in the 32nd minute with a perfectly placed header from a corner kick delivered by the maestro, Salah (2-0).
However, the Ivorians refused to surrender. They were rewarded when Yan Diomandé's shot deflected off Fatouh and into the Egyptian net in the 40th minute, reigniting the match just before halftime.
After the break, the Ivorians continued their offensive, but it was Egypt who struck again. In the 52nd minute, Mohamed Salah, receiving a perfect pass from Ashour, fired a low shot to score his fourth goal of the tournament (3-1).
Cote d’Ivoire, however, refused to back down. Guéla Doué narrowed the gap in the 73rd minute after a chaotic situation in the box (3-2). The final minutes were a tense battle, with Cote d’Ivoire launching a barrage of attacks. The Egyptian defense, however, held firm until the final whistle.
Mohamed Salah's performance was pivotal, as he scored a goal and provided an assist, showcasing his importance to the team.
Post-match Reactions:
Mohamed Salah, TotalEnergies Man of the Match: "I am very happy and proud to play with these guys. We always want to bring joy to the Egyptian fans, and we believe we can win every match with this mindset.
It was a difficult match. The Ivorians won the AFCON last time at home. They played like champions today as well. But we gave everything, and I’m happy we managed to qualify.
I always give my all for my team. I try to bring my experience to help us achieve great things. I always tell my teammates to give everything as soon as they step on the pitch. It’s very important to do that so we have no regrets.”
Émerse Fae, Côte d’Ivoire’s coach: “We are frustrated by tonight’s result. We had prepared our players to face this Egyptian team, but we made far too many mistakes at key moments in the match to hope to eliminate them.
What hurts most tonight are those mistakes. It took us some time to get into the match. I regret conceding the first goal so early, as well as the second. We reacted well by coming back to 2-1 before halftime. But the third goal put us in trouble. It’s hard to explain these lapses in concentration.
We will continue to work to prepare for the World Cup.”
Hossam Hassan, Egypt’s coach: “Since we arrived, I’ve always said that every match is like a final for us. That’s how we approach every game. Every match is different, and we adapt to each opponent.
I’m very happy about our qualification. The players gave everything, and I’m proud of them.
Our preparation made the difference. We knew they were the reigning champions. We respected them and put a game plan in place, which worked today. It’s true we also made mistakes in the match that cost us two goals, but we scored three. However, we will correct these shortcomings for the next matches.”
So, what do you think? Did Egypt's efficiency truly make the difference, or was Cote d'Ivoire unlucky? Do you agree with the coaches' assessments of the match? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
