In one of the matches of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations group stage, Egypt defeated host nation Cote d'Ivoire 3-2 in a five-goal thriller on January 11th. Egypt raced into a two-goal lead within the first thirty minutes with a quickfire double from their forward line. The hosts roared back, scoring twice before halftime to level the score and set up a grandstand second half. The winner came for Egypt in the 70th minute, a stunning free-kick that curled into the top corner, silencing the home crowd. The victory secured Egypt's place in the last 16 and dealt a blow to the host nation's hopes of finishing top of the group. The match was a showcase of attacking football, with both managers acknowledging the incredible spectacle. Egypt's boss called it a statement win, while the Ivorian coach focused on the need to bounce back.