AGADIR, Morocco – Egypt will continue its quest for a record-extending eighth CAF Africa Cup of Nations title when the Pharaohs take on Côte d’Ivoire in a highly anticipated quarter-final clash on January 10. The match is scheduled for a 9:00pm Cairo local time kickoff as part of the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco, which runs from December 21 to January 18.
Under head coach Hossam Hassan, the Pharaohs have maintained a disciplined training programme, combining physical conditioning, tactical drills, and scrimmages — reflecting a focused build-up ahead of a high-stakes encounter.
Egypt looks set to rely on striker Mostafa Mohamed to lead the Pharaohs’ attack against Côte d’Ivoire. Coach Hassan has made “the Anaconda” the focal point of the offense, targeting crosses and keeping constant pressure on the opposing defense, with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush tasked with providing quick support in transition.
Hoping to extend their continental dominance, Egypt enters the match on the back of a commanding performance against Benin, where Hassan’s side secured a 3-1 victory, showcasing both technical precision and physical resilience.
The team’s blend of attacking fluency and relentless fighting spirit has drawn widespread praise, signaling they are serious contenders for the title.
The Pharaohs topped Group B with seven points, following wins over South Africa and Zimbabwe and a goalless draw against Angola. Their journey continued in the round of 16 with the hard-fought triumph over Benin, which required two periods of extra time to seal the 3-1 victory.
The Pharaohs bring a rich AFCON pedigree to the pitch, holding a record seven titles and topping tournament appearances with 26. Côte d’Ivoire follows with 25, while Ghana, with 24 appearances, will be absent from this year’s edition in Morocco.
Egypt’s history is filled with high-scoring drama, including a 6-3 win over Nigeria in 1963—a record nine-goal clash that remains one of the tournament’s most memorable games.
Encounters between Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire have consistently produced high-intensity, high-stakes football, with the two sides meeting 21 times across all competitions.
Egypt holds a narrow historical edge with 11 victories, while the Ivorians have won six, and four matches have ended in draws—figures that underline the competitive balance between the continental heavyweights.
The Pharaohs also enjoy a slight advantage in front of goal, having scored 41 times and conceded 34 against their West African rivals.
As they prepare for the latest chapter of this rivalry, Egypt will be aiming to add a 42nd goal and take a decisive step toward securing a place in the semi-finals.
Egypt’s captain Salah continues to cement his legacy as one of Africa’s finest, setting a new AFCON record. With his latest strike against Benin, he became the player with goals against the most different national teams in tournament history, now having scored against ten separate nations across five AFCON editions.
In the Morocco 2025 edition of AFCON, the Liverpool forward has already found the net against Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Benin, bringing his total goal tally in the tournament to ten.
His scoring journey across five editions of the Africa Cup of Nations highlights his consistency and impact on the continental stage: in 2017, he scored against Ghana and Burkina Faso; in 2019, against the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda; in 2021, against Guinea-Bissau and Morocco; in 2023, against Mozambique; and in 2025, against Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Benin.
Beyond the numbers, Salah is the first Egyptian to score in five consecutive AFCON tournaments (2017–2025), inching closer to the national record for most AFCON goals held by legends Hassan El-Shazly (12) and Hossam Hassan (11). His record-breaking exploits continue to inspire both teammates and fans alike.
With Salah leading the frontline and a technically adept midfield dictating play, Egypt is well-positioned to make a deep run and potentially lift a historic eighth AFCON trophy.
