Essam El-Hadary sends Egypt to AFCON final

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Feb 02, 2017. 00:03

Egypt defeated Burkina Faso 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw to book their place in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on Wednesday night.

The Pharaohs and the Stallions had locked horns at the Stade de I'Amitie in Gabon's capital city, Libreville. Egypt will now take on either Cameroon or Ghana on Sunday's final.

Legendary Egyptian goalkeeer Essam El-Hadary was kept busy by the Burkina Faso attackers in the opening stages of the encounter.

Burkina Faso forward Razack Traore was denied twice by El-Hadary, who made comfortable saves from the latter's long range efforts.

Herve Koffi, the Burkina Faso keeper, also pulled off a good save to deny Egypt forward Kahraba in the 38th minute and the first-half ended goalless.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 65th minute by Mohamed Salah against the run of play. Kahraba set-up Salah, who made it 1-0 to Egypt.

But Burkina Faso levelled matters seven minutes later through Aristide Bance, who pounced inside the Egypt box and made it 1-1, and ultimately, the match went into extra-time.

There were no goals scored in extra-time and Burkina Faso, and Egypt went straight into a penalty shootout as the match ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

Burkina Faso duo Koffi and Bertrand Traore saw their penalties saved by El-Hadary, and Egypt emerged 4-3 winners on penalties.

Burkina Faso (0) 1 (Salah 65')
Egypt (0) 1 (Bance 72')

Burkina Faso XI: Koffi, Yago, Dayo, B. Koné, Y. Coulibaly, Kaboré, I. Touré, R. Traoré (Diawara 80'), B. Traoré, Bancé (A.Traore 102'), Nakoulma.

Egypt XI: El-Hadary, El Mohamady (Gaber 106'), Hegazy, Gabr, Fathy, Hamed, M. Salah, I. Salah, Said, Trezeguet (Sobhi 85'), Kahraba (Warda 76').