By Michael Okosi
Egypt saw off the threat of the current Africa Cup of Nigeria champions Cote d’Ivoire with a 3-2 win on Saturday in Agadir to reach the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The game was the second quarterfinals fixture of the day following Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Algeria earlier.
Egypt went ahead early in the game when Omar Marmoush found some acres of space inside the box to get on the end of a pass from Emam Ashour.
The Manchester City star placed the ball into the bottom right corner for the first goal.
Manchester United forward Amad Diallo had a chance to restore parity with 17 minutes played when he controlled a fine pass into the box and hit an instinctive shot which was brilliantly blocked.
Egypt doubled their lead through Rami Rabia with a textbook header in the 32nd minute after Mohamed Salah delivered a teasing corner kick.
Cote d’Ivoire reduced the arrears thanks to an own goal inadvertently conceded by Ahmed Fatouh who was unlucky to head the ball into his own net as he aimed to clear the ball with five minutes left on the official match clock in the first half.
Mohamed Salah made it 3-1 in the 52nd minute when he latched onto a low cross from Emam Ashour.
A pass into the box in the 73rd minute found Ivory Coast’s Ibrahim Sangare unmarked.
The Nottingham Forest midfielder targeted the top right corner albeit the Egyptian keeper, Mohamed El Shenawy brilliantly saved to keep Egypt in the game.
The Ivorians however soon grabbed another fowl through Guela Doue from the corner kick.
The forward slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to ensure a nervous end to the game.
