Egypt and Senegal completed the line-up for the semi-finals of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after both progressed from the quarter finals played on Sunday night.
While Egypt required extra time to beat Morocco 2-1 in a heated North African derby, Senegal progressed after a well worked 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea, to sail to their second consecutive semi-final.
“We played a hard-fought game against a good Equatorial Guinean team. We had the mentality to score three goals. We have had a very difficult start to our preparations, but we worked well afterwards and today we are gaining momentum. We must not get carried away because against Burkina Faso, it will be a big battle,” said Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse, revelling in the victory..
After a cagy start where Senegal were more keen into getting their feet into the tie, Famara Diedhiou broke the deadlock with a neat finish from inside the box.
The forward was picked out by a brilliant through pass from Sadio Mane before firing a left footer into the bottom left of the Equatorial Guinea goal.
Equatorial Guinea thought they had a chance to equalize when the referee awarded them a penalty after Kalidou Koulibaly seemed to have handled inside the box. However, upon advise from the Video Assistant Referees, the centre ref went to the pitch-side monitor to re-evaluate the situation.
Upon the re-evaluation, the South African official rescinded his decision and instead gave a drop ball to Senegal.
Nonetheless, the Equatoguineans didn’t break down hope and kept their fight. They found themselves level just after halftime when Jannick Buyla slotted home on the half volley inside the box after a Paul Ganet through pass split the Senegalese defense.
The Palancas Negras finally had hope of causing an upset and pushed more to get the much needed second goal.
But, their hopes were nipped in the bud in the 68th minute when Cheikou Kouyate took Senegal back into the lead. The midfielder beat the keeper to the ball and lifted it over him after the defense failed to clear a headed ball from Koulibaly.
Ismaila Sarr who was making his first start at the Cup of Nations after recovering from injury then put the game to bed in the 79th minute when he planted the ball home from close range with a side-foot finish from Saliou Ciss’s cross from the left.
Meanwhile in the early kick off Mo Salah starred with a goal and an assist as Egypt came from a goal down to beat Morocco 2-1 and make the final.
The Atlas Lions broke the deadlock in the seventh minute through Sofian Boufal’s penalty after Achraf Hakimi had been hacked down inside the box by Ayman Ashraf.
But, Egypt kept their fight and Ashraf came close to atoning for his earlier mistake with a brilliant left footed shot from range but keeper Bonou kept his shot out.
In the second half, Egypt continued with the pressure and just eight minutes after the restart, Salah drew them level with a poachers’ finish from inside the box after keeper Bonou had punched Mohamed Abdelmonem’s header from a corner into the Liverpool man’s path.
After conceding the equalizer, Morocco pushed in to try get the second goal and they were kept out by a brilliant save from Mohamed Abou Gabal who pushed Aguerd’s header onto the crossbar.
In added time, Salah killed off Morocco with a brilliant move on the left, doing well to shake off his marker before slashing down a cross which Trezeguet gleefully tapped home.
Egypt could have won the game with a two goal margin when they caught Morocco off guard on the counter, but Trezeguet’s pass to Salah was too heavy and he could only hit the side netting from a tight angle.
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