Egypt needed penalties to overcome Burkina Faso as they reached a record-equalling ninth African Cup of Nations final.
Goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who is 44-years-old, was the hero on the night for the Pharoah’s as he saved Bertrand Traore’s spot-kick to secure a 4-3 victory in the shootout.
Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in normal time before Aristide Bance found a leveller for the underdogs.
Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny sat out the clash having picked up a calf strain earlier in the week. Our man faces a race against time if he’s to participate in Sunday’s final against either Cameroon or Ghana.
What is clear is that he’ll miss Saturday’s game with Chelsea.
Hope he had the chance to win something. 🙁
A lot of people wishing otherwise
International tournaments are irritating, but Egypt reaching the final (and potentially winning it) could do a power of good for a country in need of something positive after all their recent turmoil.
@badaab I think it’s more to do with the timing rather than the competition itself.
To be honest, as an Egyptian, I didn’t expect to reach the final and i was hoping ElNeny would go back to London and train, as we desperately need him.
Egyptian midfield sucks without him. Hope he’ll be fit for the final, and comes back with enthusiasm for the games against Hull and Bayern
Good luck Mo
I really, really like Elneny. Has he ever had a bad game for us?
Man united?
Good thing they didn’t miss home because in FM he’s a great penalty taker.
Him*
I know we could do with him at the moment, but since he’s over there anyway, good stuff.
Hope he gets to play in the final.
Respite of the midweek especially after that dreadful game at the emirates
Good luck Mo17. Hope he lifts the African cup and comes back fired up for the Bayern trip.
While I’m all for Elneny’s being able to take home an ACON championship medal, I’d far rather see him just a little bit too injured to play for Egypt, but fine, fit, and healthy by the time the Hull match rolls around.