Mo Salah heroics save Egypt in AFCON as Liverpool star inspires side to semis vs Morocco | Football | Sport
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was the hero for Egypt as they came from 1-0 down to eventually beat Morocco 2-1 after extra time in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final on Sunday. Carlos Queiroz’s side are one of the favourites to go on and win the competition, but have not been in inspiring form so far.
The Pharoes got off to a dreadful start to their last-eight match in Yaounde when Sofiane Boufal gave Morocco the lead from the spot.
But shortly after half-time Salah equalised for his country as he tapped in a rebound after Mohamed Abdelmonem’s diving header had been saved by Yassine Bounou.
There was nothing to separate the two sides after 90 minutes, meaning it went to half-an-hour’s extra time.
And Salah made the difference again as he turned provider to complete the turnaround, racing down the right wing and putting in a super ball for Aston Villa’s Trezeguet, who finished at the back post.
Egypt managed to hang on and see the win out, and are now just two victories away from glory.
Salah is enjoying arguably the best season of his career, and his fine form for the Reds has certainly carried over to Egypt.
They will now face hosts Cameroon in an intriguing-looking semi-final on Thursday.
Salah recently opened up on what success for his country would mean to him.
“Of course, I want to win something with the national team,” he said in a press conference.
“It’s my country, what I love the most. This trophy for me would be completely different, would be the closest one to my heart.
“We were close before to win this African Cup, we gave it everything but we were not lucky to win it but it’s okay.
“Now we are here in the new one, we have to fight for it, we have to give everything to win it, and I’m sure the players have the same feeling..”
The final AFCON quarter-final will take place later tonight when Senegal face Equitorial Guinea.
Yesterday Burkina Faso beat Tunisia while Cameroon saw off minnows Gambia.
