Egypt, propelled by a crucial goal from star forward Mohamed Salah, has advanced to the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a thrilling 3-2 victory over reigning champions Ivory Coast. The high-stakes quarter-final match took place on Saturday, January 10, 2026. Salah netted Egypt's third goal in the 52nd minute, which proved vital as Ivory Coast mounted several comeback attempts. The Elephants, who were the defending AFCON champions (having won the 2023 edition), initially fell behind early in the game. Omar Marmoush opened the scoring for Egypt in the fourth minute, followed by a header from Ramy Rabia in the 32nd. Although Ivory Coast managed to pull a goal back before halftime and again in the second half, Egypt successfully held onto their lead despite relentless pressure. This significant win sets up a highly anticipated semifinal encounter for Egypt against Senegal, captained by Salah's former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane. The semifinal clash is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, in Tangier. This match will be a repeat of the AFCON 2021 final, where Senegal defeated Egypt on penalties. Egypt is now vying for a record-extending eighth AFCON title, while Senegal aims to add another trophy after their 2021 triumph.