Mohamed Salah produced a captain’s performance to earn Man of the Match in Egypt’s dramatic 3-2 win over holders Côte d’Ivoire, sending the Pharaohs into the AFCON 2025 semifinals.
The forward scored once and provided an assist in a quarterfinal that swung back and forth from the first whistle.
Egypt struck early when Omar Marmoush, picked out by Emam Ashour, raced through and finished calmly in the 4th minute. Despite the goal, Côte d’Ivoire took control of possession, pushing Egypt deep as Diallo, Diomandé and Guessand repeatedly tested the defence, but Mohamed El Shenawy and his back line held firm.
Against the run of play, Salah’s precise corner found Ramy Rabia, who headed in Egypt’s second on 32 minutes, before Yan Diomandé forced Ahmed Fattouh into an own goal to make it 2-1 before halftime. Early in the second half, Salah struck what proved the decisive blow, finishing low from another Ashour assist for his fourth goal of the tournament.
Guéla Doué pulled one back in the 73rd minute after a scramble in the box, setting up a frenetic finale in which the Ivorians bombarded Egypt with crosses and set pieces. But El Shenawy and his defenders turned their area into a red wall, preserving the win and confirming Salah’s decisive impact as Egypt booked a last‑four showdown with Senegal.
