Mohamed Salah converted Egypt’s winning penalty after Eric Bailly missed for Ivory Coast in a dramatic shoot-out following a 0-0 tie in the Africa Cup of Nations last-16.
Mohamed Salah scored from the penalty spot after Manchester United defender Eric Bailly’s poor chance was saved by goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal, who had replaced Mohammed El Shenawy in the last minutes of normal time.
Egypt’s striker Omar Marmoush hit the crossbar with a curling 17th-minute effort, while Ivory Coast goalkeeper Badra Sangare had to tip over Salah’s dipping effort.
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The Elephants reacted as half-time approached, with Ibrahim Sangare forcing El Shenawy to save an acrobatic volley in the 39th minute, before the goalkeeper stopped Sebastien Haller’s long-range drive in stoppage time.
Egypt’s Amr El Soleya wasted a chance from Salah’s square pass early in the second half, while Mohamed Elneny’s deflected cross was scrambled away by Badra Sangare.
El Shenawy, Egypt’s goalkeeper, had to tip over Haller’s 70th-minute header after Bailly had turned the ball back across goal, then saved replacement Wilfried Zaha with his legs after Trezeguet had come off the bench to fire wide from a tight angle at the opposite end, as the 90 minutes ended goalless.
Mohamed Sherif of Egypt, who had been introduced at the start of extra time, was injured after heading just over three minutes after arriving, and Badra Sangare saved Zizo’s sweeping 98th-minute shot.
Gabaski had to claw Ibrahim Sangare’s 104th-minute shot out of his top corner after replacing the injured El Shenawy with two minutes remaining in normal time, but the teams stayed tied together and penalties were required.
On his return from a head injury, Manchester United defender Bailly had done admirably at the back while wearing a rugby scrum cap, but the final was cruel on him.
Despite this, he made a short run-up for his penalty and placed his shot too near to Gabaski, who dived to his right and pushed the ball against the bar with his left hand.
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The Zamalek goalkeeper came on late in the second half after Mohamed El Shenawy suffered a leg injury, and he could start against Morocco depending on the severity of Egypt’s number one’s injury.
On Sunday in Yaounde, Egypt will meet Morocco in the last eight (16:00 GMT).
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Two games have been shifted away from Douala
The Japoma Stadium’s surface had been criticized throughout the group stage, and it was cut up during Tuesday’s last-16 match.
Senegal’s quarter-final against Mali or Equatorial Guinea on Sunday has been moved to Yaounde, as has the semi-final, which was supposed to be hosted in the coastal city.
Cameroon, the hosts, will face debutants. The Indomitable Lions will face the Gambia in the final eight at the Japoma Stadium on Saturday, and they will have to overcome a tough ground and giant-killing opposition if they are to continue their quest for a sixth Nations Cup crown.
