In a highly anticipated quarter-final clash at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, Egypt will face defending champions Ivory Coast at Le Grand Stade Agadir on Saturday, January 10, 2026. The match pits the record seven-time AFCON winners against the reigning champions, setting the stage for a potentially thrilling encounter.
Both teams have had strong runs in the tournament thus far. Egypt advanced to the quarter-finals after a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory over Benin in the Round of 16. Ivory Coast secured their place with a commanding 3-0 win against Burkina Faso.
Key players to watch include Mohamed Salah for Egypt and Amad Diallo for Ivory Coast, both of whom have scored three goals in the tournament. Egypt's solid defensive record and Salah's form will be crucial for the Pharaohs, while Ivory Coast will rely on Diallo and Franck Kessié to control the midfield.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan acknowledged the quality of their opponents, stating, "Cote d'Ivoire are a formidable side with top-class players". The coach of the Ivorian national team noted the importance of not being overconfident against Egypt, recognizing their ability to "struggle but they can also punish you at any one point".
The match is scheduled to kick off at 21:00 Cairo time (GMT+2). The winner of this quarter-final will face either Senegal or Mali in the semi-finals.
The probable lineup for Egypt is: Mohamed El-Shenawy - Ahmed Fattouh, Hossam Abdelmagid, Rami Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Hany - Hamdi Fathi, Marwan Attia, Emam Ashour - Omar Marmoush, Mohamed Salah.
This will be the 23rd meeting between Egypt and Ivory Coast, with Egypt having won 12 and Ivory Coast 7 of the previous encounters, with three draws. One of the most memorable matches between the two sides was the 2006 final, which Egypt won 4-2 on penalties to claim their fifth AFCON title.
The match will be broadcast on beIN SPORTS (US), fuboTV (Canada), and E4 (UK). Football fans around the world are eagerly anticipating this clash between two of Africa's footballing powerhouses.
