Mohamed Salah Fires Egypt Past Ivory Coast at Afcon 2025

Published: 11 January 2026 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online

Mohamed Salah once again proved decisive on the continental stage as Egypt defeated defending champions Ivory Coast in a thrilling and action-packed quarter-final at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. In a match filled with early drama, moments of defensive chaos and flashes of individual brilliance, the Pharaohs emerged victorious to keep alive Salah’s dream of finally lifting the Afcon trophy with his country.

Egypt wasted no time in asserting their intent. Just four minutes into the contest, Omar Marmoush capitalised on defensive hesitation, stealing possession outside the penalty area before racing clear and calmly finishing past Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana. The early breakthrough set the tone for a game in which Egypt were never behind and consistently looked the more composed side.

Despite the setback, Ivory Coast refused to crumble. Under head coach Emerse Fae, the Elephants have built a reputation for resilience, and they attempted to respond with physicality and direct attacking play. However, Egypt doubled their advantage shortly after the half-hour mark when centre-back Ramy Rabia rose highest to meet Salah’s corner at the far post. A slight deflection off Ibrahim Sangare wrong-footed Fofana as the ball looped into the net, leaving the holders facing an uphill battle.

Egypt appeared in control, yet defensive uncertainty kept Ivory Coast in the contest. Five minutes before half-time, the Ivorians were handed a lifeline when Ahmed Fatouh inadvertently turned the ball into his own net while attempting to deal with a dangerous free-kick flicked on by Odilon Kossounou. The goal shifted momentum briefly and ensured the match remained finely balanced at the interval.

Any hopes of an Ivory Coast comeback were quickly checked after the restart. Seven minutes into the second half, Salah produced a moment of quality that underlined his importance to this Egyptian side. A perfectly weighted chip forward from Rabia released Emam Ashour, whose awareness allowed him to square the ball to Salah. The Liverpool forward held off his marker and toe-poked the ball home to restore Egypt’s two-goal cushion, drawing a roar from the crowd and reaffirming his status as the tournament’s leading figure.

Ivory Coast continued to pose a threat going forward, with Evann Guessand’s physical presence unsettling Egypt’s back line at times. Yet Manchester United winger Amad Diallo struggled to make a meaningful impact, and clear chances were limited. Egypt, by contrast, looked dangerous on the break, with Fofana forced into a smart save to deny Mohamed Hany.

The defending champions rallied once more in the 73rd minute when Guela Doue produced a clever backheeled finish from close range, following a corner that had ricocheted off Sangare and been clawed off the line by Mohamed El Shenawy. The goal reignited belief among Ivory Coast supporters and set up a tense final phase.

However, this time there was no dramatic turnaround. Egypt managed the closing stages with composure, slowing the tempo and resisting mounting pressure despite the majority of the Agadir crowd urging the holders forward. Unlike their previous five Afcon knockout matches, all of which had gone to extra time, the Pharaohs held firm through stoppage time to seal victory within 90 minutes.

The win further underlined Egypt’s historical dominance over Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations. The two sides have now met 12 times in the competition, with Egypt losing just once. It also ensured that Egypt remain the last team to successfully defend the Afcon title, a feat they achieved in 2010 when they completed a historic hat-trick of championships.

For Salah, the victory carried personal significance. Now 33, he has reached the semi-finals with four goals at this tournament, his best-ever Afcon tally. His overall total of 11 Afcon goals draws him level with his coach Hossam Hassan and leaves him just one behind Hassan El-Shazly in Egypt’s all-time scoring charts.

Egypt will now travel to Tangier to face Senegal in the semi-final, a fixture that revives memories of heartbreak for Salah and his teammates. Senegal beat Egypt on penalties in the 2021 Afcon final, denying Salah his first continental crown, and also overcame them again in that tournament’s decisive moments. A reunion with Sadio Mane, Salah’s former Liverpool teammate, adds further intrigue to the contest.

With either Nigeria or Morocco awaiting in a potential final, Salah knows the path ahead remains daunting. Yet with his form peaking and Egypt displaying renewed confidence, the Pharaohs have taken another decisive step toward turning long-held ambition into continental glory.