AGADIR: Mohamed Salah scored as Egypt won 3-2 to dump defending champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations in a thrilling quarter-final on Saturday, while Victor Osimhen starred as Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 to set up a clash with hosts Morocco.

Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia netted for Egypt, then Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh conceded an own goal before half-time.

Salah then edged closer to a first Africa Cup of Nations winners medal by doubling the lead soon after the break before Guela Doue pulled a goal back for Ivory Coast, but it wasn’t enough for the holders.

The jubilant Egyptians will face Senegal on Wednesday in Tangiers with the winners meeting hosts Morocco or Nigeria four days later in the final.

“I’m so happy with this win and reaching the semi-finals,” said Salah. “I am proud to wear the Egyptian national jersey and all the players know the responsibility that comes with it.”

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan thanked his players, calling them “true Egyptians who fight for the happiness of their people”.

He added: “The success belongs to the players, starting with Salah and Marmoush, who lead the press from the front. We know there will be spaces, and our players can exploit them.”

The triumph in Agadir confirmed Egypt’s AFCON dominance over Ivory Coast since they first met 56 years ago. The Pharaohs have won 11 times and the Elephants just once.

Ivory Coast become the eighth consecutive title-holders to fail to successfully defend the title since Egypt achieved the feat in 2010.

Salah has helped Liverpool win the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League and Club World Cup, in its previous format, but the most prized African medal has eluded him.

The 33-year-old has twice been a runner-up after losses in the AFCON final to Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal five years later.

“It was a perfect win, but as I said before, we are fighting for our country,” Salah told CAF’s media channel. “Hopefully we go through the next game as well, it’s against a tough opponent, but we will give our best.

“We are fighting so hard, you can see the players, nobody is holding anything... We are just carrying on,” he added.

Salah equalled his manager Hassan’s AFCON tally, with each scoring 11 goals. He needs just one more goal to become Egypt’s all-time top scorer in the tournament alongside Hassan El-Shazly.

Earlier on Saturday, Osimhen scored one and made another as Nigeria ended Algeria’s hopes in the first game of the day in Marrakesh.

Nigeria dominated the first half without scoring before getting the breakthrough within two minutes of the restart as Osimhen headed in a cross from Bruno Onyemaechi.

The 2023 African player of the year then turned provider for the second goal just before the hour mark, setting up Akor Adams who rounded the goalkeeper to put the Super Eagles out of sight.

“A very big congratulations to the whole team for the kind of performance they put in against a very good Algeria team,” said Osimhen after collecting the man-of-the-match trophy.

“For me I just did my job. I tried to fight for the team and to get goals or assists, but the whole squad deserves praise.”

Runners-up at the last AFCON two years ago in Ivory Coast, Nigeria came to Morocco still smarting from their failure to qualify for the upcoming World Cup but they are dreaming of winning a fourth continental title here.

They were not intimidated by a Marrakesh crowd of 32,452 which was almost entirely dedicated to the Algerian cause, but the atmosphere is likely to be far more hostile for Wednesday’s semi-final in Rabat.

“Morocco are a great side. It’s not easy when you aare host country because there is a lot of pressure,” Nigeria coach Eric Chelle said.

“All I hope is that it is a great game between two great teams, and that the best team wins.”

On the other hand, Vladimir Petkovic accepted his side were well beaten, saying his team was at times “like a boxer taking punches while on the ground”.

“Nigeria deservedly won the game. They were better than us,” he added.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2026