Egypt’s Mohamed Salah takes another step towards Afcon title after ‘perfect’ q-final win over Ivory Coast

AGADIR – Egypt forward Mohamed Salah described the victory over defending champions the Ivory Coast on Jan 10 as “perfect”, hailing his teammates after progressing to the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) semi-finals.

The Liverpool star scored Egypt’s third goal and his fourth in this tournament, as they ended the Ivorians’ reign with a 3-2 triumph, sending his side to a last-four clash with Senegal on Jan 14, while Nigeria, who beat Algeria 2-0, face hosts Morocco in the other semi-final.

“It was a perfect win, but as I said before, we are fighting for our country,” Salah told the Confederation of African Football’s media channel.

“Hopefully, we go through the next game as well. It’s against a tough opponent, but we will give our best. We are fighting so hard, you can see the players, nobody is holding (back) anything.”

With his strike, Salah has scored against 11 different countries in the continental tournament.

He also equalled his coach Hossam Hassan’s tally of 11 Afcon goals and needs just one more goal to become Egypt’s all-time top scorer in the tournament alongside Hassan El-Shazly.

But he played down Egypt’s title chances again, saying they are not “100 per cent the favourites” to win the crown, as the other semi-finalists all have players competing in European leagues.

“Most of our national players play in the domestic league, it’s not to belittle them, but we are trying our best because we love our country,” the 33-year-old told beIN Sports.

“The game (against Senegal) will be difficult, they have a squad that plays at a high level in Europe, but I hope we can achieve victory.”

Egypt took the lead in the fourth minute after Hamdi Fathy pinched the ball from the Ivory Coast’s Franck Kessie in midfield, allowing Emam Ashour to thread a pinpoint pass to the sprinting Omar Marmoush who opened accounts.

While the Ivorians dominated proceedings, they did not create clear scoring opportunities and Egypt went 2-0 up in the 32nd minute when centre back Ramy Rabia rose highest to head home from a corner.

The Ivory Coast, who had 70 per cent of possession in the first half, reduced the deficit eight minutes later when teenager Yan Diomande’s free kick near the corner flag took a slight brush off teammate Odilon Kossounou’s head, ricocheted off the knee of Egyptian fullback Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh and into the net.

The Ivorians

had bounced back from two goals down to beat Gabon 3-2 earlier in the tournament

, but their hopes of another comeback were stymied by a simply created, but superbly finished, goal for Salah seven minutes after the break.

Rabia was well inside his own half when he chipped the ball over the top of the Ivorian defensive line, allowing Ashour to run onto it and hit an accurate pass with the outside of his right boot into the path of Salah to score. 

Guela Doue reduced the deficit for the Ivory Coast in the 73rd minute by flicking past 37-year-old goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy. The holders then laid siege to the Egyptian goal in search of an equaliser, but to no avail.

Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae was left to rue their early mistakes, saying: “We reacted well by coming back to 2-1 before half-time. 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.”

Egypt coach Hassan hailed his players, adding: “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.” REUTERS, AFP