Mohamed Salah scored one goal and set up the other as Egypt beat Morocco in extra time in the Africa Cup of Nations Quarter-Finals.
Sofiane Boufal gave Morocco an early lead with a penalty after Ayman Ashraf caught Achraf Hakimi, a decision given by the video assistant referee.
But Salah tapped in an equalizer after Yassine Bounou parried a header and the game went to extra time.
Liverpool’s Salah squared for Aston Villa’s Trezeguet to tap in a winner.
Carlos Queiroz’s side will face hosts Cameroon in Thursday’s Semi-Final.
The seven-time champions may need to play that game with third-choice keeper Mohamed Sobhi, who came on for his international debut after Gabaski hurt himself while tipping Nayef Aguerd’s header on to the bar near the end of normal time.
Without that save there would have been no Semi-Final to worry about – and Salah would have been on the next flight back to England.
Boufal’s penalty was the only chance of note for either side in the first half – with most other efforts from long range.
Morocco were starting to dream of only their second semi-final since 1988 but Salah had other ideas, forcing extra time and then helping settle it by setting up half-time substitute Trezeguet.
Salah has been involved in 64% of Egypt’s goals at the Africa Cup of Nations – nine of 14 – since he made his competition debut in 2017.
Round of 16: Scores winning penalty
Quarterfinals: Scores equalizer and assists winnerMo Salah helps Egypt reach the #AFCON2021 semifinals ✨ pic.twitter.com/WZf8Co4seR
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 30, 2022
Egypt should have scored a third right at the end after Morocco keeper Bounou came up for a free-kick. Morocco played it short but Egypt made a mess of their counter-attack and Salah shot into the side-netting.
Against Morocco their striker proved good enough to help them advance, but Cameroon will have the focus of a team that is backed and under pressure from their own crowd. They will not lose focus as Morocco did – they will hope.
Egypt will face the hosts on Thursday, which is a repeat of the 2017 final that was won by Cameroon.
Egypt have not won the Africa Cup of Nations since its record-extending seventh title in 2010, with Salah making his debut for the national team the year after that triumph, although the Liverpool forward is still searching for a first major title with his country.
There is a strong likelihood that the winner of the Semi Finals come Thursday will go on to lift the trophy in the finals on February 6.