Egypt took on a Morocco team ranked 28^th in the world who were hoping to end their country's long wait for continental football success, with a final defeat to Tunisia in 2004 the closest they have come to winning the title for a second time after their triumph in 1976.

An early penalty awarded following a video assistant referee (VAR) review of Ayman Ashraf's challenge on Achraf Hakimi offered Morocco an early opportunity at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé, and the spot-kick was expertly dispatched by Sofiane Boufal.

Morocco held their lead until the break, but eight minutes after the restart, Egyptian talisman Mohamed Salah pounced from close range to level the scores after a brilliant stop from Yassine Bounou.

A melee broke out towards the end of normal time as the tie became increasingly scrappy, and neither side could force a winner inside 90 minutes.

Egypt turned to third-choice goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhy in the first half of extra time as Mohamed Abou Gabal was unable to shake off an injury, but moments later superb play from Salah helped him break into the box and lay the ball on a plate for Trézéguet to rifle his country into the last four.

The margin of victory should have been more comfortable after Morocco opted to play a free kick short despite sending up goalkeeper Bounou and Egypt stole possession, but they wasted the counter-attack as a through ball for Salah was overhit an he could only find the side netting.

However, the 2-1 win clinched Carlos Queiroz's side's place in the last four, where they are set to play Cameroon on Thursday (February 3) in the first match at the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé since the crush at the host nation's match against Comoros on Monday (January 24) which killed eight and left 38 injured.

The other semi-final between Senegal and Equatorial Guinea was also held at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, having been moved from the Japoma Stadium in Douala, where the playing surface has been subject to criticism.

Senegal have never won the Africa Cup of Nations, losing to Algeria in the final in 2019, but they were hot favourites for this tie with 94 places separating the sides in the FIFA world rankings.

Famara Diédhiou notched Senegal's first goal in the opening 45 minutes of the tournament after he latched onto Sadio Mané's through ball.

Equatorial Guinea thought they had a route back into the match early in the second half when a penalty was awarded for a close-range handball by Kalidou Koulibaly, but South African referee Victor Gomes reversed his decision after consulting VAR.

However, the outsiders were level on 57 minutes with a precise finish from Jannick Buyla.

A mix-up at the back for Equatorial Guinea had them behind again midway through the second period as substitute Cheikhou Kouyaté took full advantage, before Ismaïla Sarr rubber-stamped Senegal's 3-1 victory after good work from Saliou Ciss.

Senegal are set to take on Burkina Faso at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium on Wednesday (February 2) for a place in the final.