At the end of a tough match marked by significant technical waste at this level, but provided with twists and turns, Egypt put an end to Morocco’s course (2-1, ap) and went to the semi-finals of the competition. where she will face the host country, Cameroon. Mohamed Salah scored, before providing an assist.
Chopped and played on a false rhythm, the first half of this shock of the quarter-finals of the CAN 2021 quickly turned in favor of Morocco. Irresistible since the launch of the competition, Achraf Hakimi shattered the defense of Egypt on his first overflow. Overwhelmed, Ayman Ashraf unbalanced the Parisian in his area by tackling and conceding an indisputable penalty from the start, granted after viewing the images by the referee Maguette Ndiaye (5th). A shot from eleven meters transformed without flinching by Sofiane Boufal, who perfectly took Gabaski on the wrong foot (1-0, 6th). Boufal was then the origin of a good movement on the left, concluded by a blocked shot from Selim Amallah (11th), then the Atlas Lions loosened the grip.
The atmosphere was then heavy and the game jerky. A situation that benefits the Pharaohs and Ashraf, which brings everyone out of the ambient torpor with a floating strike, diverted by Yassine Bounou (20th). Before Ahmed Mohamed imitated him a few minutes later by taking his chance from afar and forcing Bounou to a new parade (24th). But Egypt, apart from these distant situations, is not showing enough impact, like an isolated Salah on the right side, while Morocco gets lost in grocer’s calculations as on this counter devoid of intensity, led by Youssef En-Nesyri (43rd).
Salah responds to Boufal, then Trézéguet sinks Morocco
In an attempt to reverse the trend, Carlos Queiroz changed formula after returning from the locker room: Trézéguet replaced Ahmed Hegazy. A successful bet, the Pharaohs reign supreme in the beginning of the second act. Romain Saïss must first divert a cross from Omar Marmoush (47th), then another from Mohamed (48th), while Trézéguet, offset by Salah, sends a first thrill on the goal of Bounou (49th). Morocco folds, before breaking on a corner. Omar Marmoush lands a corner kick on the head of Mohamed Abdelmonem, who propels the leather towards the goal from the penalty spot! Bounou pushes back to his left … where Salah prowls and pushes the leather into the back of the net (1-1, 53rd). The cards are reshuffled.
Very close to giving in again, Morocco was saved by the end of Saïss’s shoe, which removed the ball from Omar Marmoush’s race, thrown like a full-axis ball (62nd). And Vahid Halilhodzic then made a surprising choice, bringing in Soufiane Rahimi in place of Boufal (66th). The debates are balanced on the meadow and the tension goes up a notch. So much so that a crowd formed between the two teams, after a collision with Hakimi (76th). The drama is even total when Gabaski diverts on his crossbar a point-blank helmet shot from Nayef Aguerd with a fabulous reflex save (81st), before getting injured … And refusing to go out.
Finally unable to decide between themselves in regulation time, the two nations offered spectators at the Ahmadou Ahidjo omnisport stadium in Yaoundé an additional thirty minutes. The second extension in a row for the Egyptians. During the latter, Gabaski first ends up dropping the case and the young Mohamed Sobhi enters the lawn, to experience his first selection (96th). Then Salah comes out of his box a second time. Found on the right lane, the Liverpool player makes the difference against Aguerd, and distills a cross in front of goal which finds Trézéguet on the opposite side. This tears away and pierces Bounou (2-1, 100th). Move of mercy. Egypt therefore continues on its way and joins Cameroon for what will be an explosive semi-final, between the host country and the most successful nation of the competition.
