Ivory Coast head into their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final meeting with Egypt carrying a difficult record against the Pharaohs, a run that has turned into a real hoodoo whenever the two sides meet in the knockout rounds.
The two teams are set to collide in the last eight, with Egypt looking to extend a long history of decisive wins over the Elephants when the stakes are highest. For Ivory Coast, the match represents another chance to finally break a pattern that has followed them for years.
In AFCON knockout football, Egypt have repeatedly had the upper hand. The most painful memory for the Ivorians remains the 2006 final in Cairo, when the game ended 0-0 before Egypt took the title on penalties.
The script nearly repeated itself in 2021, when the sides met again at the Round of 16 stage. That match also finished goalless, with Egypt once more coming out on top in the shootout to send Ivory Coast home.
Egypt’s edge is not limited to penalties. The Pharaohs also beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in the 1998 semi-finals, another knockout blow that strengthened the belief around this rivalry that Egypt often find a way when it matters most.
As the quarter-final approaches, Ivory Coast know the numbers are against them, but they also know one win could flip the narrative. Egypt, meanwhile, arrive with confidence drawn from history and a reputation for handling big AFCON nights.
