Egypt forward Mohamed Salah described the victory over defending champions Cote d’Ivoire as a “perfect win”, hailing his teammates after qualifying for the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.

Salah scored the third goal for Hossam Hassan’s side, as Egypt ended Ivory Coast’s reign with a narrow 3-2 triumph, with Liverpool’s talisman setting a new record by scoring against 11 different national teams at the AFCON.

Egypt will face Senegal on Wednesday in Tangier for a place in the final, in a repeat of the 2021 AFCON final.

“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.

Salah, 33, said Egypt are not “100% the favourites” to win the title, with Nigeria, Morocco and Senegal all having players competing in European leagues.

“Most of our national team players play in the domestic league, it’s not to belittle them, but we are trying our best because we love our country,” he told beIN Sports.

“The game (against Senegal) will be difficult; they have a squad that plays at a high level in Europe, but I hope we can achieve victory.”

-Reuters

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By Kunle Solaja, Marrakech

In the packed stadiums of Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, and Nigeria, the chants echo louder than ever. But this year, it’s not just the players who are rewriting history — it’s the men on the sidelines. For the first time in the Africa Cup of Nations’ history, every semi-finalist is guided by an African coach. The elimination of foreign-led teams has left the stage entirely to homegrown tacticians, ensuring that the 2025 trophy will be lifted by one of their own.

For decades, African football was often seen through the lens of imported expertise. European coaches were brought in to “add discipline” or “bring structure.” Yet, in recent years, a quiet revolution has been unfolding. Djamel Belmadi’s Algeria in 2019, Aliou Cissé’s Senegal in 2021, and Émerse Fae’s Côte d’Ivoire in 2023 all proved that African managers could not only compete but conquer.

Now, Walid Regragui, Hossam Hassan, Pape Thiaw, and Eric Chelle stand at the helm of Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, and Nigeria. Each carries the weight of national pride, but together they represent something larger: the affirmation that African football belongs in African hands.

The statistics are impressive — 15 of the 24 teams in AFCON 2025 were led by African coaches, 11 advanced past the group stage, and three-quarters of all victories have come under local leadership. But behind those numbers are stories of trust, cultural connection, and belief.

Players speak of coaches who understand their struggles, their humour, their languages, and their rhythms. These managers are not outsiders trying to decode a culture; they are insiders who live it. Their tactical decisions are shaped not only by footballing logic but by an intimate knowledge of what drives their players.

Take Hossam Hassan, Egypt’s fiery leader. Once a legendary striker, he now paces the touchline with the same intensity he showed on the pitch.

If he guides Egypt to victory, he will join Mahmoud El-Gohary and Stephen Keshi in the rare class of men who have won AFCON both as players and coaches. For Hassan, it’s not just about silverware — it’s about legacy, about proving that Egyptian football can thrive under its own guardians.

Or Walid Regragui, whose calm authority has turned Morocco into a disciplined, fearless unit. His journey from local club coach to continental contender mirrors the rise of African managers themselves: once underestimated, they are now impossible to ignore.

As the semi-finals approach, the atmosphere is electric. Fans know that no matter who wins, the victory will belong to Africa’s own. It will be a triumph not just of skill but of identity — a celebration of coaches who have fought for recognition, earned respect, and now stand as symbols of a continent’s footballing maturity.

AFCON 2025 is more than a tournament. It is a statement: African football is being shaped, defined, and led by Africans. And when the trophy is lifted, it will carry with it the dreams of millions — and the undeniable proof that the future of the game belongs to those who live it every day.

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By Kunle Solaja, Marrakech

Strikers Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams struck in quick succession after the break as Nigeria delivered a commanding performance to defeat Algeria 2–0 in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final, booking a semi-final showdown with hosts Morocco.

Osimhen broke the deadlock just two minutes into the second half, steering home a deep cross from the left by Bruno Onyemaechi. Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane misjudged the flight of the ball, making an awkward leap that left him stranded as the Napoli forward finished calmly for his fourth goal of the tournament.

Ten minutes later, Osimhen turned provider, showing admirable unselfishness to square for Adams, who rounded Zidane before rolling the ball into an empty net to double Nigeria’s advantage.

It was a thoroughly dominant display by Nigeria, who brushed aside recent disappointment over missing out on World Cup qualification to overwhelm their North African rivals at the Grand Stade de Marrakech. From the opening exchanges, the Super Eagles looked sharper, stronger in the tackle and quicker in transition, denying Algeria a single clear scoring opportunity throughout the contest.

Algeria were already under severe pressure in the first half as Nigeria created the better chances and arguably should have gone into the interval in front. In the 29th minute, centre-back Ramy Bensebaini cleared off the line after goalkeeper Zidane misjudged Ademola Lookman’s free-kick, allowing Calvin Bassey to prod goalward from a tight angle. Although replays appeared to show the ball had crossed the line, a VAR review — in the absence of goalline technology — did not award a goal.

Nigeria continued to press. In the 37th minute, a poor clearance from Zidane was intercepted by Alex Iwobi, who quickly released Adams, but the striker dragged his left-footed effort wide with only the goalkeeper to beat. Adams later headed against the upright in the 82nd minute, again after being teed up by Osimhen’s relentless industry.

Algeria, who had been taken to extra time in their last-16 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier in the week, appeared to suffer from fatigue, with several key players delivering subdued performances. Nigeria, by contrast, came into the tie fresher after a comfortable 4–0 win over Mozambique.

The victory extends Nigeria’s remarkable record at the Africa Cup of Nations, with the three-time champions now reaching the last four for the 17th time in the last 20 tournaments they have qualified for. They will face Morocco in the semi-finals in Rabat on Wednesday, with a place in the final at stake.

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