January 31 – In the Africa Cup of Nations, Mohamed Salah led Egypt with a 2-1 extra-time victory past Morocco to set up a blockbuster semi-final against hosts Cameroon, who eliminated Gambia. On the other side of the draw, Senegal and Burkina Faso will compete for a place in the final.
Once again the Liverpool star came to Egypt’s rescue. Carlos Queiroz’s side has been accused of being a one-man team and yet again Salah proved instrumental with a second-half equaliser, a simple tap-in, and a pinpoint assist for Trezeguet’s winner in extra-time.
The Moroccans had taken an early lead when Sofiane Boufal converted a penalty in the 6th minute following a foul on Achraf Hakimi. In a feisty North African derby, Egypt’s third-choice keeper Mohamed Sobhi came on for his international debut after Gabaski was injured.
On Thursday, Sobhi might return in goal for the semi-final with hosts Cameroon, both teams’ biggest test in the tournament yet. The Cameroonians hardly possess a golden generation of players, but the team has grown to become a strong unit, spearheaded by strikers Vincent Aboubakar, the tournament’s top scorer, and Karl Toko Ekambi.
The latter’s second-half brace was enough to see the competition’s revelation Gambia. The debutant defeated Tunisia and Guinea en route to the last eight, building their success on solid defending and quick transitions.
They held the Indomitable Lions until half-time, but their game plan unravelled when Ekambi scored twice inside the space of seven minutes to hand the hosts cruise control. Cameroon could have scored more in what ultimately turned into a routine victory.
Mane leads Senegal challenge
In the other semi-final, Burkina Faso will take on Senegal. Sadio Mane led the way for the Lions of Teranga. He set up two goals with his running and clinical passes as Senegal ran out 3-1, but Aliou Cisse’s Cameroon team are still to convince in the competition. They have played economic tournament football, hardly justifying their status as favourites.
Senegal have reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations twice, but have never won the tournament. In 2019, they finished runners-up after losing the final to Algeria.
But, despite their lukewarm performances, Senegal are now just a victory against Burkina Faso away from a second consecutive final. The Burkinabe shocked Tunisia in their quarter-final with Dango Ouattara getting the only goal of the match before he was sent off in the 82nd minute for an elbow on Ali Maaloul.
Minutes earlier, referee Joshua Bondo denied Tunisia a penalty as Soumaila Ouattara had caught Wahbi Khazri in the box with a high tackle in the box. The Stallions were losing finalists in 2013.
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