Mohammad Salah’s Egypt and contenders Senegal go through to the AFCON semi-final

Mohammad Salah led his nation Egypt to the African Cup of Nations semi-final as they beat their quarter-final opponents Morocco 2-1 in extra time. Salah was on the scoresheet and then turned into a provider for the second goal in the 100th minute as Egypt secured their semi-final berth in the first half of extra time. His Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane also led his national team Senegal into the semi-final as they beat Equatorial Guinea 3-1. Mane also provided Senegal’s opening goal as they cruised to victory.

Egypt will now play their semi-final tie against the host nation Cameroon on 3^rd February in the Olembe stadium which witnessed a “crash” just weeks ago resulting in the death of 8 people. The final has also been sanctioned to be played in that stadium on 6^th February in Yaounde. Senegal will play their semi-final against Burkina Faso on Wednesday at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in the Cameroonian capital.

 The decision to put the semi-final and final in the stadium where an incident has taken place just weeks ago came after the Committee of African Football gave a go-ahead signal to the organizing committee. Their official statement read “Having noted the recommendations and undertakings from Government in regard to additional security provisions over and above those which were already successfully implemented at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium during the Morocco and Malawi match and at the Japoma Stadium during the Gambia and Cameroon match, the CAF Organising Committee unanimously agreed to lift the suspension imposed on the Olembe Stadium,”

“CAF, the Local Organising Committee and the Government of Cameroon having significantly increased security and resources at the Olembe Stadium, are confident that the safety and security of spectators and visitors will be assured.”

Due to the stampede at the Olembe Stadium, the semi-finals had to be conducted as a double header in the other stadium. Salah and Mane bumped into each other as well as the latter was entering the stadium for his semi-final encounter. Salah also shared his views on securing a semi-final spot for Egypt and said “Our goal is to make the people of Egypt happy”

Although most of the footballing world consider or give Egypt’s winning credit to Mohammad Salah for his goal involvements, however, his national team coach Carlos Quieroz differs with this opinion that the Pharaohs are a one-man team and said “I agree that the best players need to show up when needed but without the team that you out on the pitch today, it was not possible to win the game”