Mohamed Salah marca la diferencia, Marruecos eliminada de la Copa África

Semi-finals:

Wednesday 2 February 20.00h Burkina Faso vs Senegal. 
Thursday 3 February 20.00h Cameroon v Egypt.

Egypt's Mohammed Salah sealed the tie for his country against an unambitious Morocco side.

Morocco got off to a good start. In the fifth minute they took the lead when Boufal, who plays for Angers in France, converted a clear penalty on Achraf Hakimi.

From then on, Egypt began to push forward, constantly looking for their star player Salah. Goalkeeper Bounou came to the rescue. First to a shot from the Egyptian star and then to another from El Fotouh, which was complicated when it touched a defender. The first half came to an end with Egypt dominating the game, but with the score in Morocco's favour. 

The second half started the same as the first, Egypt dominated and so in the fifty-third minute a header was blocked by Bono and there was Mohammed Salah to score the equaliser. The Moroccan goalkeeper left the ball at the feet of the Egyptian striker, but he did enough to stop the header that his slack defending allowed.

With the game level, caution was being exercised by both teams. Morocco did not want extra time and took a step forward. A few isolated Hakimi surges but they never found En-Nesiry.

Munir El Haddadi took a free kick but the Egyptian goalkeeper Gabaski was well placed to clear.

Morocco's best chance came in the 82nd minute with a good cross that Nayef Aguerd headed over and the good Egyptian keeper saved with the help of the crossbar.

It went to extra time and there in the tenth minute of the first part of extra time Mohammed Salah advanced down the right side and after a magnificent change of pace he put in a perfect cross to the far post where his teammate Trezeguet came in and just had to push the ball into the back of the net.

A perfect goal and assist to qualify for the semi-finals. The two teams did not play a good game, but Egypt has Salah who makes the difference. 

In the first quarter-final Burkina Faso, without having clear chances, attacked more than a Tunisia side that was very much on the back foot and so in the first half Dango Ouattara, with great speed, attacked down the right and made a precise cut-back with his right foot to get two Tunisian defenders out of the way and shot with his left foot to beat the goalkeeper Ben Said. 

In the second half, Tunisia came out to come back and dominated the game, but without creating any danger for the good Burkina Faso defence.

Tunisia continued to attack, but more with heart than head and had no clear chances even when Burkina Faso were reduced to ten men for a double yellow card. Burkina Faso reached the semi-final on merit.

The next match was between Senegal and surprise package Equatorial Guinea. But Senegal were slightly the better side, especially physically. In the 28th minute, Liverpool's Sadio Mané slipped a good pass to team-mate Famara Diedhiou who scored past goalkeeper Owono. 

Sadio Mané was still the most dangerous player.

Guinea were trying, but without depth. In the 50th minute Koulibaly intercepted a ball with his hand and the referee initially called a penalty, but on seeing it on the VAR he corrected the decision. The penalty seemed clear, although there was no intention. As a result of this push and thanks to a good pass Jannick receives the ball and with a good futsal move he connects a shot with his toe and scores the equaliser. 

Senegal stepped up a gear, but Guinea did not back down. But in a mistake by the Guinean defence Cheikhou Kouyaté took advantage to score the two-one in the 68th minute and in a good run down the left Ismaila Sarr scored the third goal with twelve minutes to go. The end. Guinea played a great role in this Africa Cup of Nations and were defeated with honour. Senegal with their great team led by Sadio Mané went through to the semi-finals.

Cameroon did not have too many problems to defeat Gambia. They dominated the game and had several chances that were not converted into goals due to lack of space or a great intervention by goalkeeper Gaye.

The Gambian players held on with the score at zero for the first half. But in the 50th minute Toko Ekambi headed home a good cross from the right.

Cameroon with the support of their fans continued to insist and another run, this time down the left, was again capitalised on by the big Lyon striker. Toko Ekambi scored to make it two-nil. Gambia never troubled the hosts. 

Big game in the semi-finals: Cameroon Egypt. Details or big stars like Salah or Toko Ekambi can decide the match.

Senegal are favourites in principle against Burkina Faso, but at this stage they cannot be overconfident or they will pay for it. Sadio Mané will be able to turn the match which will be very physical.

Senegal will not have a chance like this to reach an Africa Cup of Nations final. Burkina Faso have more than lived up to their billing and whatever comes will be an added bonus for them.

Cameroon are playing at home and can be decisive.