• EGYPT RATINGS: Mohamed Abogabal - 7. No chance of stopping Sofiane Boufal’s penalty. Outstanding save to deny Nayef Aguerd, tipping the ball onto the crossbar. Despite struggling with injury after that, tried to continue until taken off. AFP
    EGYPT RATINGS: Mohamed Abogabal - 7. No chance of stopping Sofiane Boufal’s penalty. Outstanding save to deny Nayef Aguerd, tipping the ball onto the crossbar. Despite struggling with injury after that, tried to continue until taken off. AFP
  • Omar Kamal - 6, Booked for an overzealous tackle on Boufal and his protestations. Did much better after the break and showed real grit. AFP
    Omar Kamal - 6, Booked for an overzealous tackle on Boufal and his protestations. Did much better after the break and showed real grit. AFP
  • Ahmed Hegazi - 6, Looked a leader for Egypt at the back, though some of his passes forward were poor. Went down injured before the break and was forced off. AFP
    Ahmed Hegazi - 6, Looked a leader for Egypt at the back, though some of his passes forward were poor. Went down injured before the break and was forced off. AFP
  • Mohamed Abdelmonem - 8, Put his body on the line and stayed focused until the very end. His header ended up leading to Salah’s goal. Booked for a foul on Rahimi as he tried to race into the box. EPA
    Mohamed Abdelmonem - 8, Put his body on the line and stayed focused until the very end. His header ended up leading to Salah’s goal. Booked for a foul on Rahimi as he tried to race into the box. EPA
  • Ahmed Fattouh - 7, Had a sweet strike from range saved well but needlessly conceded free kicks. Put in a wonderful cross, then did well to stop Munir El Haddadi. Dug in in extra time to help his side see out the win. Reuters
    Ahmed Fattouh - 7, Had a sweet strike from range saved well but needlessly conceded free kicks. Put in a wonderful cross, then did well to stop Munir El Haddadi. Dug in in extra time to help his side see out the win. Reuters
  • Amr El Solia (number 4) - 8, Took a couple of early knocks but showed resilience and did a lot of good work to disrupt Morocco’s play. AFP
    Amr El Solia (number 4) - 8, Took a couple of early knocks but showed resilience and did a lot of good work to disrupt Morocco’s play. AFP
  • Mohamed Elneny - 7, While the midfielder had some sloppy moments, he did a brilliant job defensively in the middle and made some well-timed tackles. AFP
    Mohamed Elneny - 7, While the midfielder had some sloppy moments, he did a brilliant job defensively in the middle and made some well-timed tackles. AFP
  • Ayman Ashraf - 5, Conceded a penalty with a rash challenge. Despite looking more measured after moving to centre-back, had to act quickly after almost playing himself into trouble. Booked in the 80th minute. AFP
    Ayman Ashraf - 5, Conceded a penalty with a rash challenge. Despite looking more measured after moving to centre-back, had to act quickly after almost playing himself into trouble. Booked in the 80th minute. AFP
  • Mohamed Salah - 9, Tried to make things happen and had some good touches, though his set piece deliveries were wasteful. Stepped up a level after half time. Was on hand to tap the ball home after Yassine Bounou saved from Abdelmonem, then got behind and beat Aguerd to assist the winner. AFP
    Mohamed Salah - 9, Tried to make things happen and had some good touches, though his set piece deliveries were wasteful. Stepped up a level after half time. Was on hand to tap the ball home after Yassine Bounou saved from Abdelmonem, then got behind and beat Aguerd to assist the winner. AFP
  • Mostafa Mohamed - 5, His indecision wasted a brilliant opportunity to break forward, while his shooting was shocking at times. Booked after a coming together with Hakimi. AFP
    Mostafa Mohamed - 5, His indecision wasted a brilliant opportunity to break forward, while his shooting was shocking at times. Booked after a coming together with Hakimi. AFP
  • Omar Marmoush - 6, Had some promising moments, eventually putting in the corner that restored parity. Couldn’t get his body across after being played through and was tackled by Romain Saiss. AP
    Omar Marmoush - 6, Had some promising moments, eventually putting in the corner that restored parity. Couldn’t get his body across after being played through and was tackled by Romain Saiss. AP
  • SUBS: Trezeguet (Hegazi, HT) - 7, Sent a shot wide after being introduced, but made no mistake when the ball came to him at the back post as he scored the winner. Reuters
    SUBS: Trezeguet (Hegazi, HT) - 7, Sent a shot wide after being introduced, but made no mistake when the ball came to him at the back post as he scored the winner. Reuters
  • Zizo (Marmoush, 80’) - 6, Played the pass that released Salah to set up the winner but fired off target after working space in the box. Reuters
    Zizo (Marmoush, 80’) - 6, Played the pass that released Salah to set up the winner but fired off target after working space in the box. Reuters
  • Mohamed Sobhy (Gabaski, 96’) - 6, His first punch was completely convincingly, but the goalkeeper kept things simple and didn’t put a foot wrong after that. AFP
    Mohamed Sobhy (Gabaski, 96’) - 6, His first punch was completely convincingly, but the goalkeeper kept things simple and didn’t put a foot wrong after that. AFP
  • Ramadan Sobhi (Mohamed, 111’) – N/A, Played a terrible pass as Egypt broke up the pitch with Bounou out of his goal. EPA. Mahmoud Alaa (Ashraf, FT) - 6, Put in a disciplined performance. Marwan Hamdi (Salah, 113’) – N/A
    Ramadan Sobhi (Mohamed, 111’) – N/A, Played a terrible pass as Egypt broke up the pitch with Bounou out of his goal. EPA. Mahmoud Alaa (Ashraf, FT) - 6, Put in a disciplined performance. Marwan Hamdi (Salah, 113’) – N/A
  • MOROCCO RATINGS: Yassine Bounou - 6, Made good saves and dealt with crosses into the box well. Was unlucky to see the ball fall to Salah after saving Abdelmonem’s header, while he couldn’t reach Salah’s pass to Trezeguet. AFP
    MOROCCO RATINGS: Yassine Bounou - 6, Made good saves and dealt with crosses into the box well. Was unlucky to see the ball fall to Salah after saving Abdelmonem’s header, while he couldn’t reach Salah’s pass to Trezeguet. AFP
  • Achraf Hakimi - 6, Won a penalty in the opening minutes with his drive forward. Was booked after a coming together with Mohamed. Lost Trezeguet at the back post for the goal that decided the game, then failed to produce anything after Imran Louza played a short free kick to him. Reuters
    Achraf Hakimi - 6, Won a penalty in the opening minutes with his drive forward. Was booked after a coming together with Mohamed. Lost Trezeguet at the back post for the goal that decided the game, then failed to produce anything after Imran Louza played a short free kick to him. Reuters
  • Romain Saiss (number 6) - 7, Was an authoritative figure at the heart of Morocco’s defence. Made a great header to prevent a cross reaching Salah and an outstanding last-ditch challenge to stop Marmoush. Headed over the crossbar in extra time. AFP
    Romain Saiss (number 6) - 7, Was an authoritative figure at the heart of Morocco’s defence. Made a great header to prevent a cross reaching Salah and an outstanding last-ditch challenge to stop Marmoush. Headed over the crossbar in extra time. AFP
  • Naif Aguerd (below) - 6, Made a brilliant header to deny Fattouh’s cross. Was left bewildered after another header was tipped onto the crossbar. Was beaten by Salah in the build-up to the winner. AFP
    Naif Aguerd (below) - 6, Made a brilliant header to deny Fattouh’s cross. Was left bewildered after another header was tipped onto the crossbar. Was beaten by Salah in the build-up to the winner. AFP
  • Adam Masina - 7, Got off to an uncomfortable start but put in a resolute defensive performance. Made an important header to deny a chance at the back post. AFP
    Adam Masina - 7, Got off to an uncomfortable start but put in a resolute defensive performance. Made an important header to deny a chance at the back post. AFP
  • Aymen Barkok - 5, Did well to stop Salah’s flick to Marmoush around his own box before seeing a good shot headed away. However, some of his play both on and off the ball was very loose. AP
    Aymen Barkok - 5, Did well to stop Salah’s flick to Marmoush around his own box before seeing a good shot headed away. However, some of his play both on and off the ball was very loose. AP
  • Sofyan Amrabat - 7, Helped his defence by disrupting Egypt’s play on various occasions. Played a good ball that Youssef En-Nesyri couldn’t capitalise on. Reuters
    Sofyan Amrabat - 7, Helped his defence by disrupting Egypt’s play on various occasions. Played a good ball that Youssef En-Nesyri couldn’t capitalise on. Reuters
  • Selim Amallah - 5, Saw an early shot blocked. Struggled to match Egypt’s midfield and was booked for a foul on Kamal. Could have done more to deal with the corner that resulted in Egypt’s equaliser. AP
    Selim Amallah - 5, Saw an early shot blocked. Struggled to match Egypt’s midfield and was booked for a foul on Kamal. Could have done more to deal with the corner that resulted in Egypt’s equaliser. AP
  • Munir El Haddadi - 4, Had a quiet game but forced a decent save with a free kick effort. Hit a shot from range that went over the crossbar in extra time. Reuters
    Munir El Haddadi - 4, Had a quiet game but forced a decent save with a free kick effort. Hit a shot from range that went over the crossbar in extra time. Reuters
  • Youssef En-Nesyri - 5, Worked hard and made a great tackle on Marmoush at the very end of the first half. His effort was tame when he finally got a half-chance. EPA
    Youssef En-Nesyri - 5, Worked hard and made a great tackle on Marmoush at the very end of the first half. His effort was tame when he finally got a half-chance. EPA
  • Sofiane Boufal - 6, Hit an unstoppable penalty to open the scoring and looked bright on the ball throughout the first half. Had a quieter second half before coming off. AFP
    Sofiane Boufal - 6, Hit an unstoppable penalty to open the scoring and looked bright on the ball throughout the first half. Had a quieter second half before coming off. AFP
  • SUBS: Soufiane Rahimi (Boufal, 66’) - 6, Brought extra energy but was fouled when it looked like he would race into the box late on. Shocker from range in the final moments. reuters
    SUBS: Soufiane Rahimi (Boufal, 66’) - 6, Brought extra energy but was fouled when it looked like he would race into the box late on. Shocker from range in the final moments. reuters
  • Imran Louza (Amallah, 86’) - 4, Tried to play the ball short to the edge of the box when there was an opportunity to deliver a free kick in the final minutes. Reuters
    Imran Louza (Amallah, 86’) - 4, Tried to play the ball short to the edge of the box when there was an opportunity to deliver a free kick in the final minutes. Reuters
  • Tarik Tissoudali (El Haddadi, 111’) – N/A, Struggled to make much of an impact. Reuters
    Tarik Tissoudali (El Haddadi, 111’) – N/A, Struggled to make much of an impact. Reuters
  • Ryan Mmaee (En-Nesyri, 87’) - 5, Made a good run that was halted by Elneny and provided a physical presence. Reuters Zakaria Aboukhlal (Barkok, 104’) – N/A.
    Ryan Mmaee (En-Nesyri, 87’) - 5, Made a good run that was halted by Elneny and provided a physical presence. Reuters Zakaria Aboukhlal (Barkok, 104’) – N/A.

Sport

Football

Egypt vs Morocco Afcon player ratings: Salah 9, Elneny 7; Hakimi 6, El Haddadi 4

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah scored equaliser and set up winner to seal semi-final spot

Danny Lewis

January 31, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Mohamed Salah was the star for Egypt as he scored an equaliser and then created the winner to earn a place in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals following a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Morocco in Yaounde.

Sofiane Boufal's early penalty put Morocco ahead in the quarter-final on Sunday but captain Salah equalised early in the second half and then made the winner for Mahmoud Trezeguet 10 minutes into extra time.

"Now it is time to focus on Cameroon and we go from there but the players gave everything today as in each game and hopefully we will carry on winning," Salah said after collecting the player-of-the-match award.

"Our goal is to make the people in Egypt happy."

Egypt meet hosts Cameroon in the semi-final in Yaounde on Thursday after a much-improved performance following a slow start to the tournament.

Sunday's victory kept Egypt on course to extend their record number of titles to eight and handed Morocco yet another failed campaign, having last made it to the semi-finals at the Afcon in 2004.

Player ratings for the match can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

Updated: January 31, 2022, 2:52 AM
Africa Cup of NationsEgyptMoroccoMohamed Salah