Egypt sets up Senegal semifinal at 2025 AFCON as Salah seals win for the Pharaohs

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Egypt reached the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a thrilling 3-2 victory over defending champions Ivory Coast, setting up a blockbuster clash with Senegal. Mohamed Salah delivered the decisive moment for the Pharaohs, scoring what proved to be the winner as Egypt continued their pursuit of an eighth continental title.

The game in Agadir exploded into life early, with Egypt striking first after just four minutes through Omar Marmoush, who finished clinically following clever build-up play. The seven-time champions doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark when defender Ramy Rabia rose highest at the back post to head in from a Salah corner, putting Ivory Coast under severe pressure.

The holders, however, dragged themselves back into the contest before half-time. A dangerous free-kick caused chaos in the Egyptian box and Ahmed Abou El Fotouh diverted the ball into his own net, giving the Elephants a lifeline and shifting the momentum heading into the break.

Early in the second half, Salah restored Egypt’s two-goal cushion. Collecting a low cross in the box, he held off his marker and prodded home to make it 3-1, underlining his status as the driving force of this Egyptian side. Yet Ivory Coast refused to fold. With 17 minutes remaining, Guéla Doué produced an instinctive back-heeled finish from close range to make it 3-2 and set up a tense finale.

Ivory Coast poured forward in the closing stages, forcing Egypt deep and launching waves of attacks, but the Pharaohs’ defence, marshalled by goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, held firm under intense pressure. The result ends Ivory Coast’s title defence and extends Egypt’s dominance over the Elephants at AFCON.

Egypt will now face Sadio Mané’s Senegal in Tangier in a highly anticipated semi-final, a rematch steeped in recent history and billed as a showdown between two of Africa’s modern giants.