Salah plays down Egypt title talk after Ivory Coast win sends Pharaohs into AFCON 2025 semis
Latest news on WhatsApp أجدد الأخبار على واتسابMohamed Salah played down suggestions that Egypt are clear favourites to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in Morocco after the Pharaohs edged defending champions Ivory Coast 3-2 in a quarter-final in Agadir on Saturday, January 10, 2026.
Salah said Egypt are not “100% the favourites”, pointing to strong contenders such as Nigeria, Morocco and Senegal, who have many players competing in top European leagues. He added that most of Egypt’s squad plays in the domestic league, while stressing the team are fighting for their country and giving everything.
Egypt’s win featured goals from Omar Marmoush and Rami Rabia, before Ivory Coast pulled one back. Salah then scored Egypt’s third shortly after the restart, and Egypt held on as Ivory Coast threatened late, Reuters reported.
Egypt will face Senegal in the semi-finals on Wednesday in Tangier, in a repeat of the 2021 AFCON final.
