LIBREVILLE, Gabon - The fallen giant of the African Cup of Nations is rising again as Egypt became the final team Sunday to force its way into the semifinals amid late drama.
The record seven-time champion, held back by years of political upheaval back home, returned to the last four for the first time since 2010 with an 87th-minute winner over Morocco in the last quarterfinal in Gabon.
Mahmoud Kahraba hooked in a volley in a goalmouth scramble at the end, giving the Egyptians a 1-0 win and their 44-year-old goalkeeper a chance to taste success one more time.
Celebrations at the final whistle centered on goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who has won four African titles with Egypt, the first an astonishing 19 years ago. El-Hadary hugged his defenders after watching Morocco’s last chance sail wide of his goal at the Stade de Port-Gentil on Gabon’s Atlantic coast.
He wasn’t meant to be there, but has ended up captaining the team after the other two keepers in the squad picked up injuries.
With El-Hadary and his defense holding out under second-half pressure from Morocco, Egypt joined Ghana as quarterfinal winner Sunday, with Ghana’s 2-1 win over Congo in the day’s first game sealed by goals from the Ayew brothers, Jordan and Andre.
Burkina Faso and Cameroon progressed to the semifinals Saturday, and all four quarterfinal games kept fans on edge until the end.
Burkina Faso beat Tunisia with two goals in the last nine minutes, Cameroon knocked out Senegal in a penalty shootout, Ghana killed off Congo’s challenge with a late penalty, and substitute Kahraba gave Egypt its last-gasp win over North African rival Morocco.
Gone in Gabon are title favorite Senegal and also Morocco and coach Herve Renard, who was seeking a third triumph with a third different team.
Still alive in a throwback African Cup are the three most successful teams in the history of the tournament.
Egypt qualified this year for the first time since winning a third straight title and seventh overall in 2010. Cameroon and Ghana are both four-time champions, but Cameroon last won 15 years ago and Ghana’s long wait to be champion of Africa again – it’s now 35 years and counting - is becoming African Cup folklore.
And then there’s the outsider, Burkina Faso, which reached the final in 2013 but certainly wasn’t expected to be in the semifinals in Gabon. In the semifinals, it’s Egypt vs. Burkina Faso Wednesday and Ghana vs. Cameroon Thursday.
