Egypt beat Burkina Faso to reach African Cup final
Africa Cup of Nations, SemiFinal – Burkina Faso 1 (Bance 73) Egypt 1 (Salah 66) Egypt win 4-3 on penalties.
Essam El Hadary was the hero as the veteran Egyptian goalkeeper saved the final two penalties to deny Burkina Faso in their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final shootout.
Egpyt opened the scoring in the second half when Mohamed Salah curled home an excellent shot from the edge of the box.
But Burkina Faso kept their AFCON dreams alive when Aristide Bancé volleyed in a tidy equaliser to take the game to extra-time.
Neither side was able to force a winner, so the crowd at the Stade de l'Amitié were treated to the nerve-shredding spectacle of a penalty shoot-out.
Goalkeeper Herve Koffi, only 20 years old, magnificently pushed Abdallah El Said's spot-kick on to the post.
But he later turned from hero to villain when he stepped up to take his side's fourth penalty and was unable to beat El Hadary - who at 24 years his senior is the oldest Nations Cup player in history.
El Hadary's experience - he now has a chance to win his fifth African title - proved vital as he then saved Bertrand Traore's effort Faso home. to send Burkina
It was harsh on Burkina Faso, who had dominated proceedings on the night and were also ahead in the shootout before veteran 44-year-old keeper El Hadary saved the last two spot kicks.
The defeat left Burkina Faso keeper Burkina Faso, 24 years El Hadary’s junior, in floods of tears after he missed his side’s penultimate spot kick.
Victory grants Egypt a crack at their eighth African Cup of Nations trophy in their tenth final.
Defence the best form of attack? Egypt had won their previous three matches with cagey, counter attacking play and never really looked like scoring before Mohamed Salah’s cracker.
It may not be the most popular or attractive but so far, the ends have justified the means.
Essam Al Hadary (Egypt) Perhaps there were several more deserving players on the Burkina Faso side but this is a sentimental pick and two fine penalty saves got the job done for the incredible 44-year-old.