Egypt came from a goal down to defeat Morocco 2-1 in extra time and advance to the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations — where host nation Cameroon awaits — with captain Mohamed Salah providing an inspirational goal and assist for the Pharaohs on Sunday.
Morocco's opening goal came early. If you want an example of why Kylian Mbappé thinks Achraf Hakimi is the best right back in the world, here's one.
Hakimi exchanged passes in his own half, took possession at the halfway line and tore at Egypt's defense until Ayman Ashraf scythed him down for a penalty after the referee looked at the monitor.
Sofiane Boufal's sixth-minute spot kick was unstoppable.
⚽️ ¡GOOOOL!
Con un penal gracias al VAR, Sofiane Boufal le da la ventaja a Marruecos#TeamEgypt 0-1 #TeamMorocco ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/o2mtQ0s05n— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) January 30, 2022
Egypt's response was steady and Morocco keeper Bono was forced into one good save before halftime, but it wasn't until the second 45 that we saw the best from Salah, including a bodying of defenders to work a chance for Trézéguet.
Salah derrochando magia ✨
Sigue el #TeamEgypt vs. #TeamMorocco en vivo por beIN XTRA Ñ.: https://t.co/fJV1gI8QT9#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #EGYMAR pic.twitter.com/Il1auTgeXO
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) January 30, 2022
It was Salah who'd grab the equalizer on 53 minutes. Bono denied Mohamed Abdelmonem's stooping header off a corner kick, but Salah was lurking at the back post and presented with the rebound.
⚽️ ¡GOOOOL!@MoSalah aparece y lo iguala para los @Pharaohs #TeamEgypt1 1-1 #TeamMorocco ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/hX7VwT2cGG
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) January 30, 2022
Tempers were flaring — the moments following every whistle were high quality theater — and you could tell we'd reached a boiling point after Morocco was given a soft free kick in a dangerous area. Shortly after, we had the start of a touchline brawl and beIN SPORTS immediately cut to its goddamn commercials.
Thankfully we got the highlight on Twitter.
It's pretty great how Munir El Haddadi, trying to play the peacekeeper between Mostafa Mohamed and Hakimi, gets the brunt of the ref's no-nonsense approach.
IT'S ON! Even the ref got involved in this fight between players from both teams! No red cards, only warnings! The extra time will be INTENSE!!!
Catch #TeamEgypt vs. #TeamMorocco live now on beIN XTRA!https://t.co/OQzCHWzQSH#EGYMAR #AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/tWW4KZwfJq
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) January 30, 2022
We went to extra time in Yaoundé as Morocco continued to threaten off set pieces and Egypt looked to work its possession into openings. Morocco's Romain Saïss sent a header over and Munir did the same with an effort from distance, while Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal, who'd clearly been struggling with a hamstring injury, was replaced by the uncapped 22-year-old Mohamed Sobhy.
Extra time of the AFCON quarterfinals — with the threat of a shootout on the horizon — is one hell of a moment to make your international debut in goal.
But you needn't worry about such things when you've got Salah. In the 100th minute, Salah collected the ball out wide and ran at his marker. The Liverpool winger squared up Nayef Aguerd on the edge of the area, turned him inside out, and delivered the perfect ball across the face of goal for Trézéguet.
⚽️ ¡GOOOOL!
Mahmoud Trézéguet aprovecha un pase de @MoSalah y pone en ventaja a los @Pharaohs #TeamEgypt1 2-1 #TeamMorocco ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/npiK0G3XS2— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) January 30, 2022
The Pharaohs should've added a third at the death when a Morocco free kick – with Bono up — directly led to a counter going the other way, but no matter — the Atlas Lions had nothing left.
¡LA QUE SE PERDIÓ SALAH!
Egipto no pudo marcar el 3-1 con el arco vacío, tras la salida de Bono para sumarse al ataque #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #EGYMAR pic.twitter.com/iFd5EEQ7US— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) January 30, 2022
Egypt hasn't won AFCON since 2010, finishing runner-up in 2017 before getting bounced in the last-16 in 2019. This is starting to feel like Salah's tournament, but there's that same growing feeling about the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Something's got to give on Thursday.
