RABAT, Morocco — Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan lauded his players’ resilience and determination after the Pharaohs secured a place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a dramatic 3-2 win over defending champions Côte d’Ivoire.
Speaking after the quarter-final clash, Hassan highlighted his squad’s fighting spirit, commitment and character as the key factor behind the triumph, confirming that focus has already shifted to the upcoming semi-final clash against Senegal.
“I’m very happy about our qualification. The players gave everything, and I’m proud of them,” Hassan said.
Egypt sealed a 3-2 victory over Côte d’Ivoire with goals from Omar Marmoush in the 4th minute, Rami Rabia in the 32nd, and Mohamed Salah in the 52nd, while the Ivorians responded through an Ahmed Fattouh own goal in the 40th minute and a strike from Doue in the 73rd.
Egypt will now face Senegal next Wednesday in the AFCON 2025 semi-finals in Morocco.
The Egypt coach underlined that his team has approached the tournament with a knockout mentality from day one.
“Since we arrived, I’ve said that every match is like a final for us. Every game is different, and we prepare according to the opponent,” he added.
“The real stars are the Egyptian people,” He underlined.
Hassan acknowledged that while Egypt made some defensive errors that led to two goals, the overall performance reflected careful preparation and belief.
“We respected Côte d’Ivoire as the reigning champions and implemented a game plan that worked. We will correct our mistakes ahead of the next match.”
The 59-year-old tactician underlined that eliminating the titleholders was an important step but not the end of the journey. “The players were men and lived up to the responsibility. This victory is for the Egyptian fans, but our mission is not finished.”
Hassan confirmed that the focus has now shifted fully to Senegal, with plans to manage the workload of key players ahead of the semi-final showdown.
Collective effort key to win
Egypt captain Mohamed Salah also expressed his delight after guiding the Pharaohs into the last four, insisting that the victory was the result of a collective effort rather than individual brilliance.
“The happiness of the Egyptian fans is the main goal for anyone who wears this shirt,” Salah said.
“I am very happy and proud to play with these guys. We always believe we can win every match with this mindset,” Salah noted.
The Liverpool forward, who was named Man of the Match, highlighted the unity within the squad. “This qualification came through teamwork. I’m proud to be part of this generation.”
“I always give my all for my team. I try to bring my experience to help us achieve great things,” he added.
The 33-year-old star added that the individual award reflected the team’s overall performance. “Winning Man of the Match belongs to the entire team. Collective performance was the most important factor.”
He praised Côte d’Ivoire as worthy opponents, describing them as a strong side with outstanding quality.
Despite his glittering club career, Salah reiterated that lifting the AFCON trophy remains a special ambition. “Winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt is still a dream. It gives me and my teammates extra motivation.”
The Pharaohs’ captain also described the current camp atmosphere as the best of his international career. “This is the best camp I’ve ever been part of. We are one family, from the technical staff to the players.”
Salah concluded by thanking Morocco for the excellent organisation of the tournament.
Salah sets new AFCON record
Salah becomes first player to score against 11 different national teams in Africa Cup of Nations history
The Egyptian captain made history by becoming the only player on the African continent to score against 11 different national teams in the Africa Cup of Nations following his goal against Côte d’Ivoire. Salah had previously been tied with three other players, each having scored against 10 different teams, but now holds the record outright.
Salah joins a legendary list of AFCON scorers, including Ghanaian Andre Ayew and Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o, who scored against 10 different teams, and Ivorian Didier Drogba, who scored 11 goals against 10 different opponents.
Over his AFCON career, Salah has found the net against Ghana and Burkina Faso in 2017, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in 2019, Guinea-Bissau and Morocco in 2021, Mozambique in 2023, and against Zimbabwe, South Africa, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire in the current edition.
Meanwhile, Egypt reinforced their dominance over Côte d’Ivoire, defeating the Elephants 3-2 in the 2025 AFCON quarter-finals at Adrar Stadium, marking their eighth victory in 12 AFCON encounters. Across all competitions, the Pharaohs have faced Côte d’Ivoire 21 times, winning 11 matches, drawing 4, and losing 6, with 41 goals scored to 34 by the Elephants.
