Mohamed Salah Brings Egypt Comeback And Advances To 2021 Africa Cup Of Nations Semifinals

Mohamed Salah (left) and Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan (right) (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Mohamed Salah inspired Egypt to their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final spot on Sunday evening as the seven-time champions came from behind to beat Morocco 2-1 in extra time.

Sofiane Boufal's penalty put Morocco in the last eight but captain Mohamed Salah equalized for Egypt early in the second half and then set up Mahmoud Trezeguet's winner 10 minutes into extra time.

Quoting Antara, Monday, January 31, Egypt will face host Cameroon in the semifinals in Yaounde, Thursday this week.

Morocco is leading 3-2 in a total of six previous encounters between the two north African giants in major African tournaments.

Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic and Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz each made two changes after their respective round of 16 wins over Malawi and Ivory Coast.

Aymen Barkok was introduced on the right side of the Moroccan midfield in place of Imran Louza, while forward Munir el Haddadi replaced the injured Ayoub el Kaabi.

Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy was ruled out due to injury against Ivory Coast so Mohamed Abou Gabal's place was filled.

Midfielder Hamdy Fathy was also absent and Ayman Ashraf, who is normally a defender, came on after Queiroz recognized the threat from Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi.

Hakimi needed just three minutes to make a big impact when Ashraf missed the ball and then fouled the Paris Saint-Germain star for a penalty.

After missing a penalty against the Comoros Islands, Morocco replaced the penalty takers and Boufal did not disappoint the Atlas Lions by slotting the ball into the right corner as Abou Gabal headed in the opposite direction.

The last time Egypt fell behind in this tournament was against Nigeria in their opening group game when they failed to equalize and had to settle for second place behind the Super Eagles in the final group stage standings.

The first half ended with Morocco retaining their one-goal lead.

Egypt replaced the injured Ahmed Hegazy with Trezeguet in the first half and the Aston Villa striker fired just four minutes into the second half.

Morocco went under pressure when Egypt equalized in the 53rd minute when Salah hit the ball from close range after Bounou could only parry Mohamed Abdelmonem's header from a corner.

Emotions peaked towards the end of the match after Hakimi objected to being violated by Mostafa Mohamed so that the two players pushed each other which were then separated by the referee.

As Morocco regained control of the match, Abou Gabal was Egypt's savior when he parried Nayef Aguerd's header.

Egypt then took the lead in the 100th minute when three Moroccan defenders failed to stop Salah, whose cross Trezeguet sent home at the far post.

Egypt will face hosts Cameroon in the semifinals on February 4.

Lineup:

Egypt (4-4-3): Abougabal (Mohamed Sobhi 96'), Kamal, Hegazy (Trezeguet 46'), Abdelmoneim, Ahmed Abou El Fotouh, Ayman Ashraf (Alaa El-Din 91'), Elneny, Al Sulaya, Mohamed Salah (Marwan Hamdi 120+3'), Mostafa Mohamed (Ramadan Sobhi 110'), Marmoush (Zizo 80').

Morocco (4-1-4-1): Bounou, Masina, Aguerd, Saiss, Hakimi, Amrabat, Munir El Haddadi (Tissoudali 111'), Amallah (Louza 86'), Barkok (Aboukhlal 104'), En-Nesyri ( Mmaee 86'), Boufal (Rahimi 66').