Salah, Egypt Oust Ivory Coast From Africa Cup of Nations in PKs

Mohamed Salah's penalty kick clinched Egypt's win over Ivory Coast in a shootout in the round of 16.

DOUALA, Cameroon (AP) — Mohamed Salah buried the decisive penalty as Egypt beat Ivory Coast 5-4 in a shootout to reach the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations on Wednesday.

Salah sent his spot kick into the bottom right corner and then ran off and jumped onto the back of Egypt substitute goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal in celebration.

The keeper pulled off the only save of the shootout when he tipped Eric Bailly's penalty onto the crossbar and out. Abou Gabal, who wears the name Gabaski on the back of his jersey, had come on as a substitute in the 88th minute when Mohammed el-Shenawy was injured.

The game ended 0-0 after 120 minutes, but only after Gabaski pulled off another crucial save in extra time with a full-stretch dive to keep out a shot from Ibrahim Sangaré that was destined for the top corner.

Egypt set up a North African derby in the quarterfinals against Morocco, and Salah's hopes of a first major title with his country are still alive.

Mohamed Salah's decisive kick keeps Egypt's #AFCON2021 dream alive 🇪🇬

(via @beINSPORTSUSA) pic.twitter.com/HGuApx4XcH

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) January 26, 2022

Egypt is a record seven-time African champion but hasn't won the Cup of Nations since 2010, when Salah was a teenager. He made his debut for his country the year after.

Salah lost in the final with Egypt in 2017 and was part of the team that was surprisingly eliminated on home soil in the last 16 in 2019.

Both teams had clear-cut chances at the Japoma Stadium in Douala on Wednesday.

Salah's snap-shot in the first half was one of them. It was tipped over the bar by Ivory Coast keeper Badra Ali Sangaré.

Ivory Coast lost AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessié to an injury in the first half and Egypt gained impetus from that.

But El-Shenawy, Egypt's starting goalkeeper, had to pull off a double save in the 85th minute to keep his team in the game. He hurt his right leg in the process, giving Gabaski his chance.

Manchester United's Bailly was returning from a head injury sustained in the group stage and wore protective headgear for the game. He took the rugby-style headgear off for his penalty in the shootout, but it didn't help as Gabaski stuck out a hand and deflected the ball onto the bar.

Egypt's quarterfinal against Morocco on Sunday will now be played at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde after the Confederation of African Football moved it away from the tournament's main Olembe Stadium because of Monday's deadly crush. Eight fans died and seven are in a serious condition after an incident blamed on security failings at the stadium.

CAF said one of the semifinals and the African Cup final on Feb. 6 might also be taken away from the Olembe depending on the findings of an investigation into the crush.