⚽🇨🇲  33^rd EDITION OF AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS 🌍

✍🏽 Presented by Joseph Kizza

(Scroll down the page for earlier updates)

📺 Watch all the AFCON 2021 matches live on Vision Group's Wan Luo TV (Startimes Channel 239 and on the Vision Digital Experience App)

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9:45 pm

ANNOUNCEMENT!

DUE TO UNFORESEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY HAS TO END AT THIS POINT. APOLOGIES.

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9:42 pm

Senegal 🇸🇳  v Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶  (10pm)

Senegal, going with a 4-3-3 look, will start like this tonight . . . 

Édouard Mendy ‏(GK)
Bouna Sarr
Saliou Ciss
Nampalys Mendy
Kalidou Koulibaly ‏(C)
Abdou Diallo
Idrissa Gueye
Pape Gueye
Famara Diédhiou
Boulaye Dia
Sadio Mané

Here are Equatorial Guinea's starters . . .

Jesús Owono ‏(GK)
Carlos Akapo
Basilio Ndong
Pablo Ganet
Esteban Obiang
Saúl Coco
Iban Salvador
José Machín
Emilio Nsue ‏(C)
Josete Miranda
Jannick Buyla

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9:38 pm

Senegal 🇸🇳  v Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶  (10pm)

(Analysis by AFP):

Sadio Mane says he is "very well" and "what does not kill you makes you stronger" amid concerns that he may have been concussed in a collision with Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha in a laboured last-16 win.

Only when the Cape Verdeans were reduced to nine men by two red cards did Senegal score, and they have failed to find the net in two of four matches.

But a defence marshalled by Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly with Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy behind him has not conceded a goal -- they are the only quarter-finalists to achieve four clean sheets.

Having ended the 35-match unbeaten run of Algeria and upset Mali after a shoot-out, the Equatoguineans will look to outstanding central defenders Saul Coco and Esteban Obiang to contain Mane.

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9:35 pm

Senegal 🇸🇳  v Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶  (10pm)

This is Equatorial Guinea's third Africa Cup of Nations tournament and all three times, they have reached the last-eight.

In 2012, as co-hosts, they were knocked out at the quarterfinal stage by eventual finalists Ivory Coast in a 3-0 result in Malabo.

In 2015, again as hosts, the National Thunder were semifinalists. They settled for fourth after losing to DR Congo 4-2 in a penalty shootout in the third place game played in Malabo.

Seven years later and Equatorial Guinea are back in familiar territory. Only Senegal can stop them making a semifinal comeback.

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9:30 pm

Senegal 🇸🇳  v Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶  (10pm)

This may come as a surprise but Senegal have never won the Africa Cup of Nations.

The closest The Teranga Lions have come close to lifting it was as finalists in 2002 and in the last edition (2019) when they finished second.

At the 2002 final in Mali, Senegal and Cameroon could not be separated after extra time in a goalless affair. It was the latter that proved their indomitability by winning 3-2 on penalties. Current head coach Aliou Cissé was one of the three Senegal players that missed their penalties.

In 2019, Algeria's Baghdad Bounedjah scored the only and winning goal two minutes into the final to deny Senegal inside a packed Cairo International Stadium.

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9:26 pm

Senegal 🇸🇳  v Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶  (10pm)

It has been a disappointingly low-goalscoring campaign for Equatorial Guinea - but what matters most is that they have managed to get to the quarterfinal stage.

Juan Micha Obiang's team have just two goals from four games to show for. If you are wondering how then have they managed to make it all the way to the last-eight, look no further than their goal-concession record. Only Ivory Coast (one) managed to score against the National Thunder.

Their two goals have been scored by Esteban Obiang and Pablo Ganet.

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9:19 pm

Senegal 🇸🇳  v Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶  (10pm)

Despite having on their side a striker as potent as Sadio Mane, who is synonymous with banging in the goals at his club in England, Senegal have laboured to grind out the results.

They have scored only three goals in four games played so far. On the flipside, having a world-class goalkeeper in the form of Édouard Mendy, who plays for Chelsea, has also helped them shut out opposing strikers. The Teranga Lions have not conceded a goal in this edition.

Their three goals have come from Mane (2) and Bamba Dieng (pictured below).

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9:12 pm

Senegal 🇸🇳  v Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶  (10pm)

Equatorial's road to the last-eight

The National Thunder failed to rumble in their opening group game against Ivory Coast, falling to a 1-0 defeat to The Elephants. Max-Alain Gradel put that contest to bed very early - in the fifth minute.

It was not going to be any easier for Equatorial Guinea, as their next game was against the reigning champions, Algeria. But, Juan Micha's side went on to produce the biggest upset of the edition by beating The Fennec Foxes 1-0 through Spanish-born Esteban Obiang in the 70th minute.

Equatorial Guinea head coach Juan Micha

After proving to be no pushovers, Equatorial Guinea progressed to the last-16 with a 1-0 victory over ten-man Sierra Leone. By the time Kwame Quee was dismissed in the 90th minute, Pablo Ganet had already scored the all-important goal in the first half (38th minute).

What stood between Micha's side and the quarterfinals was Mali, who were the runners-up back in 1972. After a goalless affair following 120 minutes of playing, the contest was to be decided by the penalty shootout. And here, it was the National Thunder that boomed loudest, winning 6-5 on penalties to advance.

Tonight, what stands between Equatorial Guinea and a semifinal slot is Senegal, who want the same spot. All worth fighting for!

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9:09 pm

Senegal 🇸🇳  v Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶  (10pm)

Senegal's journey to the quarterfinals

Coming into this tournament as the top-ranked nation in Africa, Senegal's group-stage opening game did not exactly reflect that status. They needed a penalty deep in stoppage time (seventh minute of added time) to clinch a 1-0 win over The Warriors of Zimbabwe. Their star man, Sadio Mane of Liverpool, converted that penalty.

Next, The Lions of Teranga could not activate their roar against Guinea in a contest that ended 0-0, before registering the same result (goalless draw) against The Flames of Malawi in their final group game. 

Five points were enough to take Aliou Cissé's men through to the last-16, where a date with Cape Verde would happen.

It was a return to winning ways for Senegal against the Blue Sharks, who were reduced to nine men after Patrick Andrade's dismissal halfway into the first half and later Vozinha in the 57th minute.

The Teranga Lions took full advantage of their personnel superiority. Sadio Mane opened the scoring in the 63rd minute, before Bamba Dieng sealed the victory in stoppage time to see Senegal advance to the last-eight.

Tonight, in under an hour from now, they are up for a showdown with the National Thunder of Equatorial Guinea, with a last-four spot at stake.

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9:03 pm

Senegal 🇸🇳  v Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶  (10pm)

Equatorial Guinea's goalkeeper Jesus Owono. Will he be the hero again?

After these celebrations at the end of an exhausting penalty shootout against Mali in the round of 16, Equatorial Guinea players know it starts all over again - tonight!

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9:00 pm

Senegal 🇸🇳  v Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶  (10pm)
FT: Egypt 🇪🇬  2-1 Morocco 🇲🇦

Mohamed Salah has risen to the occasion for Egypt. Will his Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane do the same for Senegal?

One hour to kickoff for the last quarterfinal duel of this edition.

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8:49 pm

Senegal 🇸🇳  v Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶  (10pm)
FT: Egypt 🇪🇬  2-1 Morocco 🇲🇦

So after 120 minutes of absorbing football, the participants of one of the semifinals are known. Cameroon v Egypt.

Five-time winners versus record seven-time champions. A clash of giants - yes, your tongue is teasing your lips in anticipation of this one. It doesn't get any better than this!

But hey, as you look forward to that battle, we still have another little matter to settle. We need one more team to complete the semifinal cast - to face Burkina Faso, who are already sitting pretty on the other end.

Will it be Senegal? Or will Equatorial Guinea cause another upset and have the last laugh?

That game is coming up next. Kickoff at 10pm, so you have enough time to grab yourself a light meal, before you can settle down for some more African footballing action.

I will be back here in a few . . .

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8:37 pm

FULL TIME:  Egypt 🇪🇬  2-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

IT'S ALL OVER! EGYPT HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE SEMIFINALS.

It has been a tempestuous conclusion to this North African rivalry and it is The Pharoahs of Egypt, who have come from one goal down to beat The Atlas Lions of Morocco to have the last laugh!

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8:33 pm

118'  Egypt 🇪🇬  2-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

TWO MINUTES TO GO! Can Egypt hold on? Can Morocco strike?

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8:30 pm

115'  Egypt 🇪🇬  2-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

Vahid Halilhodzic's side have five minutes to force this contest into a penalty shootout.

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8:23 pm

108'  Egypt 🇪🇬  2-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

That was Trezeguet's first goal of this campaign. He joins Mohamed Salah (2) and Mohamed Abdelmonem (1) on Egypt's scoring charts.

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8:17 pm

HT:  Egypt 🇪🇬  2-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

HALF TIME OF EXTRA TIME.

Two minutes for a break for both sides. Salah is bellowing some instructions to his mates as they walk off to the sidelines for some quick pep talk.

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8:14 pm

104'  Egypt 🇪🇬  2-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

I think Mostafa Mohamed was aiming for some birds high above Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium with that very adventurous shot blasted miles over the bar!

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8:10 pm

100'  Egypt 🇪🇬  2-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

⚽ GOAL! Trezequet (Egypt)

Is this the winner?

Captain Mohamed Salah turns from scorer to provider by waltzing his way into the Moroccan area, escorted by his minders, to square a pass into the path of an advancing Trezeguet, who connects deliciously into an empty goal.

What industry!

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8:05 pm

95'  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

SUBSTITUTION. It is a reluctant departure for injured Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal (Gabaski), who gives way for less experienced Mohamed Sobhi. Gabal was slapped on under similar circumstances in the game against Ivory Coast, and it is he that has to go off this time around.

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8:04 pm

94'  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

Munir El-Haddadi is played through near Egypt's area in early extra-time action. It is a good effort but flies over the bar.

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8:02 pm

92'  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

It has been a busy evening for referee Maguette N'diaye.

And there are 30 minutes of extra time still to play. Action resumes to find a winner here.

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7:53 pm

FT:  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

MATCH GOES INTO EXTRA TIME.

This incident-packed contest is far from over.

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7:49 pm

90'  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

He is evidently in agony, but injured Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal refuses to go off against medical personnel's advice to give way.

Five minutes are added.

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7:44 pm

86'  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

Remember when Egypt's first-choice goalie Mohamed El Shenawy limped off against Ivory Coast in the round of 16 (picture below)?

Now his replacement, Mohamed Abogabal, is down and needing lengthy medical attention after appearing to have hurt himself while trying to keep out Nayef Aguerd's headed effort.

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7:39 pm

81'  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

CHANCE for Morocco!

Nayef Aguerd's fierce header is blocked and crashes against the bar, ricocheting back into play inside a busy Egyptian box.

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7:36 pm

78'  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

🟨 YELLOW CARDS!

After the dust settles following that fiesty confrontation a couple of minutes ago, Egypt's Mostafa Mohamed and Morocco's Achraf Hakimi are shown yellow.

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7:33 pm

75'  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

CLOSE! Munir El-Haddadi's powerful leftfooted freekick is blocked by goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal.

Shortly after, tempers on the pitch. It was long coming. Shoves, falls and verbal exchanges. It is a busy day for the officials. Senegalese referee Maguette N'Diaye is communicating with VAR.

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7:29 pm

72'  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

🟨 YELLOW CARD! Roger de Sa (Egypt)

You don't see many of these, but Egypt's assistant coach Roger de Sa goes in the referee's book for his off-pitch protests.

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7:27 pm

70'  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

Adam Masina is having a busy evening trying to contain the uncontainable Mohamed Salah, whose trickery is giving the Moroccan defenders a lot of work to deal with.

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7:24 pm

67'  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

Morocco are on the attack. Sofyan Amrabat plays in Youssef En-Nesyri, who fails to stick the ball to his left foot and out of play it goes.

The forward flashes a thumbs-up sign in the direction of his teammate for the vision.

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7:19 pm

62'  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

Morocco have been, by far, Egypt's biggest bogey team on the African continent despite winning the last contest. It is one goal apiece here at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, with less than 30 minutes to go.

I know you don't need to be reminded that if it stays like this, the contest will extend into extra time (30 minutes). And if that period fails to separate these two sides, a penalty shootout will be decisive.

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7:17 pm

60'  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

That is Mohamed Salah's second goal of the tournament - and Egypt's third. The other goal has been scored by Mohamed Abdelmonem.

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7:10 pm

53'  Egypt 🇪🇬  1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

⚽ GOAL! Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

And that early injection of vim and pace pays off! From a corner, Omar Kamal's powerful header is kept out by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, but Mohamed Salah, who is onside, connects the rebound to restore parity!

Game on!

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7:05 pm

48'  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

Oh my word! Egypt have started this half on the front foot. They have pegged Tunisia back and Mohamed Salah is the man orchestrating this momentum. The Liverpool forward has to shake off three minders with his quick feet. He slaloms his way through and manages to square a pass to second half substitute Trezeguet, whose low shot whistles wide of the mark.

Now that's an encouraging start by the record champions.

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7:03 pm

KICKOFF!  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

The second half is under way.

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6:59 pm

HALF TIME:  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

📸  Here are some pictures from the opening half action:

Morocco's forward Youssef En-Nesyri fights for the ball with Egypt's defender Ahmed Hegazi.

Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou clears the ball next to Egypt's forward Omar Marmoush.

Egypt's forward Mohamed Salah reacts.

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6:55 pm

HALF TIME:  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

The half time statistics show that Egypt, who are trailing by a goal, possessed 63% of the ball against Morocco's 37%.

The Atlas Lions had seven attempts at goal, with one on target. The Pharaohs, on the other hand, had four attempts, with two of those on target.

In a physical encounter, Egypt committed 10 fouls while Morocco were guilty of nine. Both sides have received a yellow card.



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6:48 pm

HALF TIME:  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

Morocco take a slim lead into the break. Sofiane Boufal's seventh-minute penalty goal is the difference.

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6:44 pm

44'  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

Ahmed Hegazy is down, wriggling in pain. He requires off-pitch medical attention. Will he continue or will he carry on? The Egyptian will definitely carry that niggle into the break.

Two minutes will be added on.

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6:40 pm

40'  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

Unsurprisingly, this has been a tactically physical contest as half time approaches.

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6:33 pm

33'  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

🟨 YELLOW CARD! Selim Amallah (Morocco)

Selim Amallah is the first man to go in referee Maguette N'Diaye's book. His offence: Clattering Omar Kamal.

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6:31 pm

31'  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

After a lengthy confrontation by a crowd of Egyptians - led by Ayman Ashraf and Arsenal man Mohamed Elneny - with the referee over his decision to award a freekick, Ahmed Hegazy eventually manages to calm his teammates down and they regroup to defend the freekick. Achraf Hakimi, who has already scored twice for The Atlas Lions, is the man to take it.

The PSG man tries to curl the ball, but it misses the target. Goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal is not troubled.

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6:25 pm

25'  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

The Egyptians have 60% of the ball against Morocco's 40%. But it's The Atlas Lions that boss the most important statistic: the scoreline.

Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has already been drawn into a fantastic save by Ahmed Abou El Fotouh's fierce shot, as Salah and co battle to claw back into this contest.

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6:21 pm

21'  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

By the way, the last six matches between Egypt and Morocco have ended 1-0 or 0-0. No more than two goals have been scored in any of the last 16 matches between them. Isn't it amazing how low-scoring this derby is?

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6:17 pm

17'  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

Morocco captain Romain Saïss brings down Mohamed Salah just outside the box. The referee saw that and he awards a freekick to The Pharaohs. Omar Marmoush delivers the goods, but his goal-bound shot takes a deflection off a Moroccan player for a corner.

Salah whips in the resulting corner from the right, but the ball flies across the mouth of the goal and evades everyone. The Egyptians will have to show more ambition here.

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6:15 pm

15'  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

Play has to briefly pause as Egyptian Amr El Soleya requires on-pitch medical attention after going down from a heavy challenge.

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6:11 pm

11'  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

Sofiane Boufal has now scored three goals in this campaign. He is among the five different scorers for The Atlas Lions. The others are: Achraf Hakimi (2), Selim Amallah (1), Zakaria Aboukhlal (1) and Youssef En-Nesyri (1).

Morocco have now netted eight goals in this edition and conceded three times (including one own goal).

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6:07 pm

7'  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 

⚽ GOAL! - Sofiane Boufal (Morocco)

Sofiane Boufal steps up to face Mohamed Abou Gabal. The Moroccan will not miss that one, and does well to send the Egyptian keeper the wrong way.

The Atlas Lions draw first blood!

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6:05 pm

5'  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-0 Morocco 🇲🇦 

PENALTY TO MOROCCO!

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6:03 pm

3'  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-0 Morocco 🇲🇦 

We have the first talking point of the game moments after Adam Masina pulls back Mostafa Mohamed. Ayman Ashraf brings down Achraf Hakimi and there are nerves.

Now, for the latter incident, the referee jogs to the pitch-side monitor to review. VAR.

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6:00 pm

KICKOFF!  Egypt 🇪🇬  0-0 Morocco 🇲🇦 

Senegalese referee Maguette N'Diaye has blown his whistle to urge Morocco to get the ball rolling.

Mohamed Abogabal is in Egypt's goal after first-choice goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy limped off injured against Ivory Coast in the round of 16.

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5:57 pm

Egypt 🇪🇬  v Morocco 🇲🇦  (6pm)

The teams have walked out of the tunnel. Egypt are wearing red-and-black while Morocco have gone with an all-white look.

It is anthems time. The cameras have focused on Mohamed Saleh for a couple of seconds.

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5:42 pm

Egypt 🇪🇬  v Morocco 🇲🇦  (6pm)

Egypt, who are going with a 3-4-3 formation, are lining up like this today . . .

Mohamed Abou Gabal (GK)
Omar Kamal
Ahmed Abou El Fotouh
Mohamed Elneny
Mohamed Abdelmonem
Ahmed Hegazy
Ayman Ashraf
Amr El Soleya
Mostafa Mohamed
Mohamed Salah (C)
Omar Marmoush

Morocco have gone with a 4-1-3-2 look and will start with this lineup . . .

Yassine Bounou ‏(GK)
Adam Masina
Achraf Hakimi
Sofyan Amrabat
Nayef Aguerd
Romain Saïss ‏(C)
Aymen Barkok
Selim Amallah
Sofiane Boufal
Youssef En-Nesyri
Munir El-Haddadi

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5:28 pm

Egypt 🇪🇬  v Morocco 🇲🇦  (6pm)

This is the sort of mood you want your best player to be in going into a tie as big as a quarterfinal for a place in the semifinal.

What could be going through Mohamed Salah's mind? 

Victory, only victory . . . if you asked me.

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5:19 pm

Egypt 🇪🇬  v Morocco 🇲🇦  (6pm)

(Analysis by AFP):

This showdown between north African giants stands out as the highlight of the four quarter-finals with Morocco holding a 3-2 lead from previous Cup of Nations tournament clashes.

Egypt showed the defensive solidity the country is famed for when holding a star-studded Ivory Coast attack goalless in the round of 16 before winning on penalties.

Salah works tirelessly but has scored only once in Cameroon -- the winner against Guinea-Bissau -- and the extra shooting practice ordered by coach Carlos Queiroz has yet to deliver dividends.

Morocco boast potential match-winners in forwards Youssef En-Nesyri and Sofiane Boufal while last-16 victims Malawi will attest to the free-kick expertise of Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi.

Morocco head coach Vahid Halilhodzic

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5:08 pm

Egypt 🇪🇬  v Morocco 🇲🇦  (6pm)

Morocco's AFCON winning history

Morocco have one Africa Cup of Nations title to show for, which came 46 years ago - in 1976 in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

That year, the winner was determined by a final group stage, with the final four teams playing in a round-robin format, instead of a knockout stage. It was also the last edition to use that format to determine the overall winner, having been previously also applied in 1959.

Since then, the closest The Atlas Lions have come close to winning it again was in 2004 (18 years ago), when they finished as runners-up behind hosts Tunisia in a 2-1 result.

So they have been there and have had a taste of what it feels like to lift that coveted trophy. They are determined to experience that glory of old again. It starts tonight.

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4:56 pm

Egypt 🇪🇬  v Morocco 🇲🇦  (6pm)

Egypt's AFCON winning history

On March 21, 1986, I was seven months away from being born when Egypt, the hosts at the time, beat Cameroon 5-4 on penalties to lift their third Africa Cup of Nations trophy.

They had already won it in 1957 and 1959.

The Pharaohs went on to reign supreme on the continent with the  titles of 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010, placing them at the dizzying top of the AFCON title ranking.

It is now 12 years since Egypt last tasted continental victory, having come up second-best against Cameroon in the 2017 final. They were a disappointment in 2019 - as hosts - when they were knocked out at the round of 16 by South Africa.

Now, Carlos Queiroz's side are two games away from reaching the February 6 final. To get there, first they have to muscle off Morocco, who also did not advance from the last-16 stage in 2019 and therefore harbour ambitions of redemption of their own.

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4:43 pm

Egypt 🇪🇬  v Morocco 🇲🇦  (6pm)

Morocco have scored seven goals in this edition and conceded three times (including one own goal). 

Their goals have been scored by five different players: Sofiane Boufal (2), Achraf Hakimi (2), Selim Amallah (1), Zakaria Aboukhlal (1) and Youssef En-Nesyri (1).

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4:35 pm

Egypt 🇪🇬  v Morocco 🇲🇦  (6pm)

For Egypt, the goals have been few and far between. They have scored only two goals thus far - by Mohamed Salah and Mohamed Abdelmonem.

The Pharaohs have conceded once. So it has been tight on both ends of the pitch for the record champions.

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4:30 pm

Egypt 🇪🇬  v Morocco 🇲🇦  (6pm)

Morocco's road to the last-eight

Morocco kicked off their campaign by beating Ghana 1-0, Sofiane Boufal punishing the Black Stars seven minutes before time.

The Atlas Lions then made it two successive wins with a 2-0 win over debutants Comoros. Selim Amallah opened the scoring in the 16th minute, before Zakaria Aboukhlal wrapped up the victory one minute before time to seal Morocco's spot in the last-16, with a game to spare.

In their final group game, Vahid Halilhodzic's side were denied a group-stage clean sweep when they were held 2-2 by Gabon in one of the highest-scoring contests of the tournament. In that one, Jim Allevinah put Gabon in front 21 minutes into the game.

Sofiane Boufal levelled the scoreline with his second of the campaign from the spot in the 74th minute. Seven minutes later, Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd restored The Panthers' lead by turning the ball in his own net. In the 84th minute, Achraf Hakimi rescued a point for The Atlas Lions.

Achraf Hakimi celebrates with goalkeeper Munir Mohand Mohamedi after scoring

Next up, Morocco had to the face the heat from The Flames of Malawi in the round of 16. Malawi took an early lead - in the seventh minute - through Gabadinho Mhango. In first half stoppage time, Youssef En-Nesyri equalized. Later, in the 70th minute, Achraf Hakimi completed the comeback with a strike that extinguished The Flames as The Atlas Lions roared into the quarterfinals.

This evening, they face fellow North African side Egypt. Who will go through and whose journey will grind to a halt?

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4:25 pm

Egypt 🇪🇬  v Morocco 🇲🇦  (6pm)

Egypt's journey to the quarterfinals

The Pharaohs started off on a losing note, courtesy of a 1-0 defeat to a resplendent Nigerian side. Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winner in that one.

Egypt then got their campaign back on track with a slim 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau, Mohamed Salah scoring that all-important goal in the 69th minute.

Carlos Queiroz's side eventually advanced from the group stage to move on to the round of 16 with a 1-0 win over Sudan, thanks to Mohamed Abdelmonem's 35th-minute strike.

At the last-16 stage, the seven-time Africa Cup of Nations winners were up against The Elephants of Ivory Coast for a high-billed clash. An exhauasting 120 minutes of football - regulation time and extra time - could not separate these two continental giants.

So the contest had to be decided by spot kicks. Egypt emerged victorious 5-4 to book a place in the quarterfinals.

Now that they are here, a spot in the semifinals is up for grabs.

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4:20 pm

Egypt 🇪🇬  v Morocco 🇲🇦  (6pm)

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4:15 pm

The road to any Africa Cup of Nations final is always an arduous one. This evening, Egypt and Morocco will both be hoping that their respective journeys do not end at the quarterfinal stage.

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4:10 pm

Here is today's quarterfinals schedule (both kickoffs are listed in Ugandan time):

Egypt 🇪🇬  v Morocco 🇲🇦  (6pm)
Senegal 🇸🇳  v Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶  (10pm)

There will be four hours inbetween the two kickoff times because it is a double-header - both games will be played at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Cameroon's capital Yaounde.

Morocco players training at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium on Saturday

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4:05 pm

Also on Saturday, Burkina Faso overcame Tunisia in a tight encounter to book a place in the last-four.

It was mixed fortunes for 19-year-old Dango Ouattara, who scored the winning goal in first-half stoppage time, and went on to be dismissed eight minutes before time for elbowing Tunisia's Ali Maâloul in the face during an aerial challenge for the ball.

It means the Burkinabe forward will miss their semifinal game against the winner of tonight's quarterfinal clash between Senegal and Equatorial Guinea.

Ouattara's absence will be a big blow for Kamou Malo's side, who will next be battling for a place in the final.

What Malo and co will be delighted about is the fact that they have become a bogey team for Tunisia. The Stallions have met the Carthage Eagles at the quarterfinal stage of this competition three times, and they have beaten the Tunisians all those times.

Overall, Burkina Faso have made it to the quarterfinals four times and have made it through to the next stage four times.

Their fans love this statistic - and no wonder it has been celebrations in Ouagadougou since Saturday night.

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4:00 pm

Hello and welcome back!

On Saturday, five-time champions Cameroon beat debutants Gambia 2-0 to qualify for the semifinals of the pandemic-delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

The hosts, who last won the title in 2017, proved to be a juggernaut against The Scorpions, with Karl Toko Ekambi scoring twice in a space of seven minutes in the second half of a largely one-side contest to seal a last-four spot for The Indomitable Lions.

Up until that quarterfinal duel, Gambia had only conceded once (against Mali) in four games. Therefore, Tom Saintfiet will have been proud of his side's battling spirit, knowing all too well that they played against a far superior Cameroonian side on the day. After a debut continental outing that has exceeded all expectations, The Scorpions return to Banjul with their heads held high.

The Indomitable Lions, on the other hand, remain on course for a sixth title. They will watch very closely this evening's North African derby featuring record champions Egypt and Morocco, as this is where their semifinal opponent will come from.

For now, the home fans continue to celebrate their team's latest triumph.

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