Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria and hosts Morocco have reached the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, setting up two blockbuster clashes after a dramatic quarter-final stage that saw defending champions Ivory Coast eliminated.
The line-up was completed on Saturday
The line-up was completed on Saturday when Egypt edged Ivory Coast three-two in a thrilling encounter, ending the Elephants’ title defence and booking the Pharaohs’ place in the last four.
Record seven-time winners Egypt, still chasing an eighth crown that has eluded them since 2010, will now face Senegal in a repeat of the 2021 final. Hosts Morocco take on three-time champions Nigeria in the other tie, with both semi-finals scheduled for Wednesday 14 January.
Egypt’s victory provided standout drama
Egypt’s victory over Ivory Coast provided the standout drama of the knockout round so far. Without injured forward Trezeguet, the North Africans raced into a two-goal lead inside 32 minutes.
Omar Marmoush opened the scoring after just four minutes, turning home Emam Ashour’s cross for his second goal of the tournament. Defender Rami Rabia then powered in a header from a Mohamed Salah free-kick to double the advantage.
Ivory Coast pulled one back before half-time when Ahmed Fatouh unluckily deflected a free-kick into his own net. But Egypt restored their two-goal cushion early in the second half as Ashour latched onto a long ball and teed up Salah, who finished coolly from close range.
The Elephants refused to surrender and reduced the deficit again in the 73rd minute when Guela Doué bundled home from a corner. Yet Egypt held firm through a tense finale, weathering intense late pressure to seal their progression.
Salah, playing in what could be his final AFCON, once more proved decisive. The Liverpool star has been central to Egypt’s campaign, and his clinical finish silenced any doubts about the Pharaohs’ attacking threat.
Ivory Coast exit at quarter-final stage
The result means Ivory Coast, who lifted the trophy on home soil two years ago, exit at the quarter-final stage despite an unchanged line-up from their emphatic last-16 win over Burkina Faso.
Earlier quarter-final results
Earlier in the round, Senegal became the first team through with a hard-fought one-nil victory over Mali in a tense West African derby. Morocco then secured their first semi-final appearance in 22 years by comfortably dispatching Cameroon two-nil on home soil, ending a long hoodoo against the Indomitable Lions.
Nigeria completed the quartet by overcoming Algeria two-nil, with Victor Osimhen among the scorers as the Super Eagles extended their impressive record in knockout ties.
High stakes in the semi-finals
The semi-finals promise high stakes. Senegal against Egypt revives memories of the 2021 final, won by the Teranga Lions on penalties after Salah’s decisive miss. Morocco, unbeaten in 25 matches and buoyed by fervent home support, face a Nigeria side brimming with attacking talent led by Osimhen.
Notably, all four remaining teams are coached by Africans – a point of pride for the continent as the tournament in Morocco builds towards its climax.
With star names, historic rivalries and home advantage in play, the path to the 18 January final in Rabat looks as open and exciting as ever.
