Every meeting, penalty heartbreak and unforgettable nights — History never stays quiet when Egypt meet Cote d’Ivoire at AFCON

10.01.26 FT AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations

Egypt

3

:

Ivory Coast

2

Another crucial encounter awaits the Egyptian national football team and the Ivory Coast national team in the quarter finals of the African Cup of Nations on Saturday 10 January 2026 in Agadir.

On paper it is last eight tie. In reality it feels closer to final because when Egypt and Cote d’Ivoire meet at AFCON, history never stays quiet.

Why this Quarter final feels bigger than the scoreline

Egypt arrive in Agadir after tense extra time victory over Benin (3-1), a match decided late and carried by nerves, pressure and leadership from Mohamed Salah.

As for the Ivory Coast national team, the defending champion, they enter the match with different weight (the burden of expectations and the memories of repeated defeats against Egypt in the knockout stages especially from penalty kicks).

So yes this is quarter-final But emotionally, it carries the weight of decades.

Egypt vs Cote d’Ivoire at AFCON: Every tournament meeting

This rivalry is not built on talk.. it is built on receipts.

1970 AFCON (Sudan) — Third place playoff

• Egypt 3-1 Cote d’Ivoire
• Outcome: Egypt finished third & Cote d’Ivoire fourth.

1974 AFCON (Egypt) — Group stage

• Egypt 2-0 Cote d’Ivoire
• Outcome: Egypt finished third & Cote d’Ivoire eliminated from group-stage.

1980 AFCON (Nigeria) — Group stage

• Egypt 2-1 Cote d’Ivoire
• Outcome: Egypt reached the semi-finals & Cote d’Ivoire eliminated from group-stage.

1984 AFCON (Cote d’Ivoire) — Group stage

• Cote d’Ivoire 1-2 Egypt
• Outcome: Egypt finished fourth & Cote d’Ivoire eliminated from group-stage.

1986 AFCON (Egypt) — Group stage

• Egypt 2-0 Cote d’Ivoire
• Outcome: Egypt went on to win the title & Cote d’Ivoire finished third.

1998 AFCON (Burkina Faso) — Quarter-final

• Cote d’Ivoire 0-0 Egypt (Egypt won on penalties, 5-4)
• Outcome: Egypt became champions & Cote d’Ivoire eliminated from Quarter final

2006 AFCON (Egypt) — Group stage

• Egypt 3-1 Cote d’Ivoire
• 2006 AFCON — Final
  • Egypt 0-0 Cote d’Ivoire (Egypt won on penalties, 4-2)
  • Outcome: One of the most iconic finals in AFCON history.

2008 AFCON (Ghana) — Semi final

• Cote d’Ivoire 1-4 Egypt
• Outcome: Egypt lifted the trophy & Cote d’Ivoire finished fourth.

2021 AFCON (played 2022, Cameroon) — Round of 16

• Cote d’Ivoire 0-0 Egypt (Egypt won on penalties, 5-4)
• Outcome: Egypt reached the final & Cote d’Ivoire eliminated from Round of 16.

The pattern that refuses to go away

When these two meet at AFCON, one trend keeps resurfacing:

• Scoreless draws
• Penalty shootouts
• Egypt advancing

From 1998 to 2006 to 2022, Cote d’Ivoire have repeatedly seen their AFCON journey ended by Egypt from the spot. And when it doesn’t go to penalties? The match often swings violently ,, none more so than the 4-1 demolition in the 2008 semi final.

Goals, Records and the men who shaped the rivalry

Overall top scorers (All competitions)

• Hassan El-Shazly — 4 goal
• Mohamed Aboutrika — 4 goal
• Didier Drogba — 3 goal

Top AFCON scorers in the fixture

No single “owner” of the rivalry just moments:

• Taher Abouzaid (1984, brace)
• Emad Moteab (2006 group stage, brace)
• Amr Zaki (2008 semi final, brace)

When Egypt and Cote d’Ivoire meet at AFCON, the tournament doesn’t just move forward.. it remembers.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

Related teams and leagues

Egypt

Ivory Coast

AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations