LIBREVILLE, Gabon – Egypt beat Burkina Faso 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Libreville on Wednesday to reach the Africa Cup of Nations final.
A sumptuous strike by Mohamed Salah in the 66th minute looked to have been enough to send seven-time champions Egypt into Sunday’s final.
But Burkina Faso were level just seven minutes later thanks to Aristide Bancé, the first goal conceded by the Egyptians at this Cup of Nations, and there was no further scoring.
In the penalty shoot-out, the Burkinabe goalkeeper Kouakou Koffi saved the very first spot kick from Abdallah El Said, but then Koffi was thwarted by opposite number Essam El-Hadary.
The 44-year-old veteran goalkeeper was the hero for the Egyptians as he stopped Koffi’s effort, and then won it for the Pharoahs by getting a hand to Bertrand Traore’s penalty to clinch a place in Sunday’s final.
El-Hadary was also voted as the Man of the Match for his performance.
The second semi-final takes place on Thursday evening in Franceville, where Ghana and Cameroon will face off.