In the end, all it took to separate 7 time record African champions Egypt from two time winners Ivory Coast was post match penalties.And it went the way of the Pharaohs who won 5-4 after Eric Bailly’s attempt was saved by substitute goalkeeper Gabaski before Liverpool ace Mohammed Salah scored the final penalty that sent Egypt to the quarter finals where they set up an enticing tie against North African opponents Morocco.This is after the two sides played out to a barren stalemate all through regulation time and an additional thirty minutes played in extra time.MO SALAH SENDS EGYPT TO THE #AFCON2021 QUARTERFINALS 👑 pic.twitter.com/qtzVDpzq7r— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 26, 2022 First HalfThe game got underway after a minute silence was observed in honour of the eight lives lost at the Olembe Stadium tragedy.Thereafter, it is the Ivorians who showed their earliest intent in the match as they fashioned two attempts on goal in the opening ten minutes but there was no harm done with either opportunities as they lacked any serious threat.While the orange stripped Elephants bossed all the possession in the opening proceedings, it is Omar Marmoush who almost stole the lead for the Pharaohs very much against the run of play as his dipping strike in the 17th minute beat goalkeeper Badra Sangare only to disappointingly cannon off the crossbar and away.#TeamEgypt are through to the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 quarter-finals after beating #TeamCotedIvoire in an intense encounter ✅#AFCON2021 | @EFA pic.twitter.com/4ybhPByWzw— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 26, 2022 The Ivorians were then dealt a hammer blow as midfield lynchpin Frank Kessie was forced off with an injury in the 30th minute with Serey Die coming in his stead.Six minutes to the interval, they finally put something together and almost got their efforts rewarded when Ibrahim Sangare, free on the penalty spot, chose to go for the spectacular with a scissor kick that was destined for the top right only for the full stretched intervention from goalkeeper Mohammed El Shenawy to deny what looked like a certain goal as the custodian parried clear to maintain the deadlock at the break.HALF-TIME! ⏰ #TeamCotedIvoire 0⃣-0⃣ #TeamEgypt #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #CIVEGY pic.twitter.com/7m7QcdQF83— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 26, 2022 Second HalfEgypt started stronger but Ivory Coast finished on top with clear cut chances falling the way of the West Africans who continued to ask questions.On the stroke of the 70th minute, a heroic fingertip save from El Shenawy denied Ivory Coast the chance of surging ahead as the custodian reacted instinctively to keep out a Sebastian Haller goal bound header from close range.Thirteen minutes later, Wilfred Zaha looked to make an instant impact from the bench just minutes after coming on as he purposefully drove down the inside left channel, reaching the box before pearling a shot towards the bottom left.EGYPT BEAT COTE I’IVOIRE IN THE AFCON. AGAIN. A spectacular performance from the Pharaohs over the 120 minutes, as #TeamEgypt secure their place in the quarter-finals 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/UwLuFdq7tG— KingFut.com (@King_Fut) January 26, 2022 However, the Egyptian goalkeeper was not yielding as he bravely put in his foot to save the ball from rolling beneath him. Despite that save preventing some late drama, it came at a cost as he was forced off with an injury immediately after, Gabaski replacing him.In extra time, despite both sides showing sheer determination to nick the game, none of them could conjure anything as the game headed to post match penalties.Penalty ShootoutsIvory Coast – Nicolas Pepe, Ibrahim Sangare, Eric Bailly (missed), Maxwell Cornet, Wilfred ZahaEgypt – Zizo, Amr El Solia, Omar Kamal, Mohammed Abdelmonem, Mohammed Salah
