Salah stars as Egypt secure place in AFCON quarter-finals
Eric Bailly missed from the penalty kick spot as Egypt progressed to the quarter-finals of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) by knocking out Côte d’Ivoire after a shootout.
The most frequently contested match in the tournament’s history —- this was the 11th time these sides have met —- was decided when Mohamed Salah swept home.
His kick helped secure a 5-4 win in the penalty kicks shootout after 120 goalless minutes in Douala.
In a tight first 90 minutes of few goalscoring chances, arguably the best of them fell to Amr El Soleya, who blasted over after being teed up in space by Salah.
Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy tipped over a Sebastien Haller header before keeping out a Wilfried Zaha effort.
But he was replaced with two minutes of normal time left due to injury.
A bright start from Egypt to extra time saw El Soleya presented with another chance, the Al Ahly midfielder unable to keep his awkward header down from six yards out.
Mohamed Abou Gabal saved a speculative Ibrahim Sangare strike, and Simon Deli got in front of the replacement goalkeeper from the resulting corner-kick only to head over.
Salah’s cut-back set up Trezeguet with practically the final kick of extra time, but the Aston Villa man shot straight at Badra Ali Sangare from six yards.
The opening four penalty kicks of the shootout were scored before “Gabaski” clawed Bailly’s effort onto the crossbar, the Manchester United defender’s run-up not fooling the goalkeeper.
Zaha swept home to put the pressure on Salah, who found the bottom-right corner to set up a last-eight meeting with Morocco.
(dpa/NAN)
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