YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Egypt’s national football team has finished preparations in readiness for their match against heavyweight Morocco in the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2021) on Sunday at 5:00pm Cairo Local Time.
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Senegal’s Sadio Mane have helped Liverpool conquer England and Europe, now both crave African Cup of Nations winners’ medals.
Both sharpshooters will be in quarter-finals action on Sunday in Cameroon with Mane-inspired Senegal tackling surprise packets Equatorial Guinea while Salah and his Egypt teammates confronts Morocco.
Mane said that he would “swap all the medals he has won for a Cup of Nations gold gong” while Salah talks of the “desperation of the Egyptian people for another title” after last being champions in 2010.
If they continue winning, twice runners-up Senegal and record seven-time champions Egypt will meet in the February 6 final of the marquee African sporting event.
Egypt clashes with Morocco
This showdown between Egypt and Morocco stands out as the highlight of the four quarter-finals with Morocco holding a 3-2 lead from previous Cup of Nations tournament clashes.
Egypt showed the defensive solidity the country is famed for when holding a star-studded Côte d’Ivoire attack goalless in the round of 16 before winning on penalties.
The record champions kept their cool in the nerve-racking penalties to beat Côte d’Ivoire with substitute goalkeeper Mohamed Daader saving Eric Bailly’s spot kick.
The Pharaohs weathered the early Elephants storm and they were denied by the woodwork, when Omar Khalid Marmoush’s curled effort smashed the frame of Badra Ali Sangare’s goal with 16 minutes on the clock.
Salah works tirelessly but has scored only once in Cameroon — the winner against Guinea-Bissau — and the extra shooting practice ordered by coach Carlos Queiroz has yet to deliver dividends.
Morocco boast potential match-winners in forwards Youssef En-Nesyri and Sofiane Boufal while last-16 victims Malawi will attest to the free-kick expertise of Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi.
Equatorial Guinea faces Senegal
Mane said that he is “very well” and “what does not kill you makes you stronger” amid concerns that he may have been concussed in a collision with Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha in a laboured last-16 win.
Only when the Cape Verdeans were reduced to nine men by two red cards did Senegal score, and they have failed to find the net in two of four matches, AFP repotrted.
But a defence marshalled by Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly with Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy behind him has not conceded a goal — they are the only quarter-finalists to achieve four clean sheets.
Having ended the 35-match unbeaten run of Algeria and upset Mali after a shoot-out, the Equatoguineans will look to outstanding central defenders Saul Coco and Esteban Obiang to contain Mane.
Equatorial Guinea needed penalties to beat Mali by 6-5 after a goalless draw in extra-time, to reach the quarter-finals against Senegal.
Nzalang Nacional reached the quarter-finals for the third time in many participations, while Mali failed to imitate what they did in Cameroon 50 years ago when they reached the final in 1972.
Taken by anxiety and the desire to score in the first minutes, both teams failed to create real goal opportunities
Mali could have opened the scoring after the 32nd minute. RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Handara came close to scoring but could not keep his balance to finish off a freekick.
The Malian Eagles tried a counter-attacking move to force their opponents into making mistakes. In the 37th minute, Mali striker Moussa Doumbia claimed a penalty kick, but the assistance of VAR overturned the penalty awarded.
Sunday’s fixtures
5:00pm Egypt vs Morocco
9:00pm Senegal vs Equatorial Guinea
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