Egypt needed extra-time to defeat Morocco 2-1 in their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals clash at the Stade Omnisport Ahmadou Ahidjo in Cameroon on Sunday.
A late goal by Mohamed Salah was enough to book the Pharaohs a place in the semi-finals in this dramatic match up.
Morocco got off to the perfect start after Boufal fired them ahead on the sixth minute from the spot after Egyptian defender Ayman Ashraf brought down Achraf Hamini inside the area.
Egypt reacted acted quickly and nearly scored an equalizer in the 20th minute but Ashraf powered a shot into the hands of Morocco keeper Yassine Bounou for Phraohs’s first effort.
Hakimi should have extended the lead for the Atlas Lions on the half-hour mark after a mistake at the back saw him go clear on goal, but his volley sailed over the crossbar.
The chances continued to fall for Morocco, as Selim Amallah fired over from close range after the Pharaohs defence failed to clear their lines.
With the game still opening up in the early exchanges of the second stanza, Mohamed Salah had a glorious chance after getting on the end of Omar Marmoush’s cross which he failed to divert on target.
Egypt managed to put themselves level on the 53rd minute when Salah converted a rebound from close range after Mohamed Abdelmonem’s diving header from a corner had been parried by Morocco goalkeeper Bounou.
Morocco came close to going ahead in the 68th minute after Romain Saiss’s header from a corner was headed off the line by Ahmed Hegazy, with Gabal Ali out of his goal.
Nayef Aguerd was unlucky not to snatch the winner for Morocco in the last seven minutes with a header from the edge of the box that came saved Mohamed Abo Gabal.
Both sides pushed forward in search of a winner but neither could find an opening in the 90 minutes and the game ended 1-1 with extra time looming.
Mohamed then grabbed a winner with ten minutes of extra-time played to seal a victory for the Pharaohs.
How they lined-up:
Egypt: Mohamed El Shenawy, Ahmed Hegazy, Ayman Ashraf, Omar Kamal, Ahmed Abou El Fotouh, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Amr El Soleya, Mohamed Elneny, Mohamed Salah, Mostafa Mohamed, Omar Marmoush
Morocco: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Romain Saiss, Nayef Aguerd, Adam Masina, Sofyan Amrabat, Ayman Barkok, Selim Amallah, Munir El-Haddadi, Youssef En Nesyri, Sofiane Boufal
