Egypt Advances to African Cup Semifinals

Morocco's forward Munir el Haddadi (L) fights for the ball with Egypt's midfielder Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 quarter-final football match between Egypt and Morocco at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on January 30, 2022. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
Morocco's forward Munir el Haddadi (L) fights for the ball with Egypt's midfielder Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 quarter-final football match between Egypt and Morocco at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on January 30, 2022. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
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Egypt Advances to African Cup Semifinals

Morocco's forward Munir el Haddadi (L) fights for the ball with Egypt's midfielder Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 quarter-final football match between Egypt and Morocco at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on January 30, 2022. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
Morocco's forward Munir el Haddadi (L) fights for the ball with Egypt's midfielder Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 quarter-final football match between Egypt and Morocco at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on January 30, 2022. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

Mohamed Salah scored the equalizer and created the winner to inspire Egypt's comeback on Sunday to beat Morocco 2-1 after extra time and reach the African Cup semifinals.

Egypt fell behind to an early penalty won by Achraf Hakimi and converted by Sofiane Boufal in the seventh minute.

Egypt captain Salah reacted quickly to knock in a rebound to make it 1-1 in the 53rd and sent in a perfect low cross for Trézéguet to tap in near the end of the first half of extra time.

Egypt was left to rely on third-choice goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhy for most of extra time after an injury to Mohamed Abou Gabal, who was already in the team in place of first choice Mohamed el-Shenawy.

Abou Gabal was injured in normal time but tried to play through it. He couldn't and had to come off in the sixth minute of extra time, leaving the 22-year-old Sobhy to make his debut for his country at the end of a high-pressure game.

In the end he wasn't tested and Salah and Trézéguet combined for the winner four minutes after Sobhy came on. Salah was faced with three defenders covering him on the right wing but he went for the outside and sent a right-foot cross into the path of Trézéguet at the back post.

Salah almost had a second in the final, chaotic moments when Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou joined an attack in the desperate search for an equalizer and left the Moroccan goal unguarded.

Egypt broke and Salah chased down a through ball but couldn't force it into the empty net from a tight angle.

It didn't matter. Full time came about a minute later and Egypt went through to a semifinal against host Cameroon, which is a repeat of the 2017 African Cup final that was won by Cameroon.

Egypt hasn't won the African Cup since its record-extending seventh title in 2010. Salah made his debut for the national team the year after that triumph and is still searching for a first major title with his country.



Barcelona's Balde May Miss Cup Final with Hamstring Injury

Soccer Football - Spanish Super Cup - Final - FC Barcelona v Real Madrid - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - January 12, 2025 FC Barcelona's Alejandro Balde celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/ File Photo
Soccer Football - Spanish Super Cup - Final - FC Barcelona v Real Madrid - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - January 12, 2025 FC Barcelona's Alejandro Balde celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/ File Photo
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Barcelona's Balde May Miss Cup Final with Hamstring Injury

Soccer Football - Spanish Super Cup - Final - FC Barcelona v Real Madrid - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - January 12, 2025 FC Barcelona's Alejandro Balde celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/ File Photo
Soccer Football - Spanish Super Cup - Final - FC Barcelona v Real Madrid - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - January 12, 2025 FC Barcelona's Alejandro Balde celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/ File Photo

Barcelona left back Alejandro Balde has sustained an injury to his left hamstring, the club said on Sunday, ahead of an important run of games for the LaLiga leaders.

Hansi Flick's side face Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, after a huge 4-0 win in Barcelona last week, followed by the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid on April 26.

Local media reports say Balde will need three weeks to recover, Reuters reported.

The 21-year-old left the Leganes game, which Barcelona won 1-0 to extend their LaLiga lead, due to injury on Saturday.

"Tests carried out on Sunday morning on the first team player Alejandro Balde confirm that he has a distal injury to his left hamstring," Barcelona said in a statement.

"His return to action with the first team will depend on his recovery," the Catalan side added.

Balde has played 43 games in all competitions, scoring one goal and providing 10 assists.

Barcelona lead LaLiga with 70 points, seven ahead of Real Madrid who have a game in hand.