The large stadium in Agadir witnesses, today Saturday, the last matches of the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025). This will bring together two of the most prominent football schools on the continent: Egypt and Ivory Coast.
The “Pharaohs,” crowned with the continental title seven times, face a tough match against the “Elephants,” the defending champions of the last edition. This match carries a long history of encounters between the two teams in the finals of the tournament.
Egypt secured their place in this round after defeating Benin in extra time (3-1), confirming their ability to manage knockout matches wisely. Although they do not always seek absolute control of the game, they rely on their extensive experience and good management of crucial moments in the match, with the decisive presence of their star Mohamed Salah during pivotal times.
As for the Ivory Coast team, they enter this encounter as title holders, after a stable performance since the start of the tournament. They will seek to reaffirm their position among the continent’s elite.
The two teams have faced each other on 21 occasions across various competitions, with Egypt having the upper hand, winning 11 times compared to 6 victories for Ivory Coast. Four matches ended in a draw. Many of these encounters have taken place in decisive contexts within the African Cup finals.
Among the most notable of these matches is the final of 2006, which Egypt won on penalties, in addition to the matches in 1998 and 2022 in the knockout stages, which also ended in penalties. Egypt excelled in the semi-finals of 2008, while Ivory Coast secured other victories in qualifying matches and some encounters outside the finals.
These historical records are merely a backdrop for today’s match, where the outcome will depend on fine details. Egypt will try to take advantage of its long experience in “knockout” matches, while Ivory Coast will strive to defend its title and continue its path toward continental glory.
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