Salah spot on to send Egypt into last eight
MO SALAH scored the winning spot-kick to send Egypt into the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals as they overcame Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout. After a goalless 90 minutes and extra time, the Liverpool forward saved himself for the final kick, having seen Manchester United centre back Eric Bailly miss for Ivory Coast earlier in the shootout. And Salah, the Egypt captain, powered his penalty past goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare to send the record seven-time winners into the last eight. They will face Morocco in the quarter-finals on Sunday at Yaounde’s Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium. The match has been moved across the Cameroonian capital due to the crush that killed at least eight people at Olembe Stadium outside the hosts’ last-16 tie against Comoros on Monday. The incident was blamed on security failings at the stadium. Egypt will be hunting their first AFCON title since 2010, the year before Salah made his international debut. They disappointed on home soil last time in 2019, when they were knocked out by South Africa in the last 16. But while there was joy for Salah it was heartache for Bailly, who played in a rugby scrum cap after a head knock. His kick was saved by Egypt’s substitute goalkeeper Gabaski, who had come on in the 88th minute after Mohamed El Shenawy went off injured. Elsewhere, Equatorial Guinea reached the quarter-finals last night by beating Mali in another penalty shootout. After a goalless draw, goalkeeper Jesus Owono saved the crucial spot-kick to send the minnows on to a last-eight meeting with Senegal on Sunday.