The Pharaohs defeated hosts Cameroon 3-1 on penalties following a 0-0 draw in Yaounde, booking themselves a spot in the AFCON’s final late on Thursday.
The Egyptian national team started its campaign in the AFCON with a 0-1 loss to Nigeria in the group stage before making a brilliant comeback by defeating both Guinea Bissau and Sudan 1-0, reaching the tournament’s round of 16 as the runners-up to Group D.
Egypt then defeated topflight Cote d’Ivoire 5-4 on penalties following a 0-0 draw in Stade Japoma stadium and then beat Morocco 2-1 in the quarterfinal, which led to last Thursday’s semi-final crunch showdown with the Indomitable Lions.
The Pharaohs are edging closer to a record-extending eighth crown, their first since 2010, but they have one last tough clash against Senegal, who are making a second successive appearance in the AFCON’s finals, on Sunday.
English Premier League side Aston Villa congratulated Egypt and the team’s star winger Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan for reaching the final as well as the superb performance of the Pharaohs.
Congratulations to @Trezeguet and Egypt, who have reached the #AFCON2021 final! 👏 pic.twitter.com/4uXBGz5RNA
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 3, 2022
United Kingdom famed newspaper the ‘Mirror’ also mocked Cameroon’s striker Vincent Aboubakar, who stated before the game that Egypt’s Mohamed Salah doesn’t impress him much.
“Don't speak too soon as Egypt knock Cameroon out of AFCON,” the English newspaper said on their twitter account after the game.
👀 Vincent Aboubakar: "Mohamed Salah doesn’t impress me much."
😬 Don't speak too soon as Egypt knock Cameroon out of AFCON pic.twitter.com/77iNHDT6dS
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) February 3, 2022
Furthermore, Brazilian lyricist and novelist Paulo Coelho also congratulated Egypt after reaching the final of the AFCON and introducing a superb performance in the game against hosts Cameroon.
Congratulations Egypt ! In the final of #AFCON pic.twitter.com/jPjYxvC9EB
— Paulo Coelho (@paulocoelho) February 3, 2022
Additionally, Sky Sports News described the game as a heartbreak for Cameroon, as the hosts bow out in the semi-finals.
“It was heartbreak for Cameroon, as this missed penalty from Clinton Njié saw Egypt progress to the final of the African Cup of Nations, as the hosts bow out in the semi-finals,” the news agency tweeted.
It was heartbreak for Cameroon as this missed penalty from Clinton Njié saw Egypt progress to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, as the hosts bow out in the semi-finals. pic.twitter.com/EhD8J4E2Dq
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 3, 2022
In anticipation of Sunday’s final, the official twitter account of the English Premier League said that Liverpool teammates Egypt’s Salah and Senegal’s Sadio Mane will be facing off in the AFCON 2021 final.
The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN), an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., extoled the performance of Egypt’s second choice goalkeeper Mohamed Abu-Gabal as well after stealing the show with two saves in the shootout against Cameroon.
“Everybody thought Salah would be Egypt’s hero at this AFCON, but second choice keeper Gabaski has been single-handedly keeping them in the tournament,” ESPN tweeted.
Everybody thought Salah would be Egypt's hero at this AFCON, but second choice keeper Gabaski has been single handedly keeping them in the tournament 👏🇪🇬 pic.twitter.com/JixDBrklk5
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 3, 2022