Egypt reached their fourth consecutive and ninth overall final appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations with a victory over Burkina Faso on Wednesday in Libreville.
The Pharaohs had to rely on Essam El Hadary’s magic to defeat the resilient Stallions 4-3 after Penalties that followed a one all draw in the normal band extra time.
Mohammed Salah unlocked the strong Burkina Faso defense line with a 66th minute stunning strike to the top left corner connecting from Kahraba’s shot pass.
The Stallions replied well to strike a balance and forced two corners in succession. Aristides Bance clicked the right box four minutes later, cheating down Charles Kabore’s cross and riffled past El Hadary for the leveller.
It was also the first goal El Hadary conceded in this tournament and ended 10 hours streak for the 44 year old.
The game was stretched into the extra time but it had to be decided from the spot after a gruesome evening in Libreville.
Abdullah El Said stepped up for the first shot, but unfortunately for him, the power behind the shot was emasculated which Koffi easily blocked with his right hand and to the post.
Alain Traore scored to put Burkina Faso ahead of the second rounds of shots.
Ramadhan Sobhi, Ahmed Hegazy, Salah and Warda made no mistake in the subsequent kicks for Egypt before El Hadary pounced on Koffi and Bertrand Traoré’s shots to send Egypt through.
Lineups
Burkina Faso: Herve Koffi Kouakou Steeve Yago, Bakary Kone, Prejuce Nakoulma, Abdou Razack Traore (80′ Banou Diawara), Issoufou Dayo, Aristide Bance (102′ Alain Traore), Charles Kabore, Bertrand Traore, Yacouba Coulibaly, Ibrahim Blati Toure.
Egypt: Essam El Hadary, Ali Gabr, Ahmed El Mohamady (106′ Omar Gaber), Ibrahim Salah, Ahmed Hegazy, Ahmed Fathi, Tarek Hamed, Mohamed Salah, Mahmoud Kahraba (74′ Amr Warda), Abdalla El Said, Trezeguet (85′ Ramadan Sobhi)