Egypt Breaks Into AFCON 2025 Semis as Salah Shines and Morocco Shines Back

Road to the Semifinals

Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan expressed his delight after reaching the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 semifinals, hosted in Morocco, following a 3-2 victory over defending champions Ivory Coast in a thrilling quarterfinal.

In the postmatch press conference, Hassan thanked his players for their fighting spirit and said the squad features top-class players who approach every game as if it were the final of the tournament.

He noted that every match has its own conditions and preparation, and he stressed his respect for all opponents as he immediately begins planning for the game against Senegal.

He also praised the Moroccan fans for their support and lauded the tournament's organization by the hosts.

Commenting on his first trip to Agadir since the tournament began, Hassan expressed gratitude to the city and indicated the team would be ready to play in any Moroccan city; the next match is in Tangier against Senegal, with strong local support anticipated.

He emphasized his hope that Mohamed Salah, Egypt's star, will clinch the title because he deserves it over the course of his career.

The coach added that Egypt benefits from a high-level technical staff and a disciplined camp system managed by Ibrahim Hassan, with hard work from the entire team.

He finished by thanking the players for their commitment and fighting spirit and reiterated the wish to win the trophy.

Looking Ahead

Attention now turns to the semifinal in Tangier against Senegal, with the team aiming to maintain the momentum and to deliver a strong performance before the hosting crowd.

Punchlines: If Salah keeps scoring, the trophy might file a restraining order against defenders. Morocco hosted so smoothly that even the corner flags asked for autographs.