On Saturday, January 10, 2026, the Agadir stadium will be the scene of a footballing earthquake. This quarter-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations resurrects one of the most lopsided rivalries on the continent: the Elephants of Ivory Coast against their eternal "nemesis", the Pharaohs of Egypt.

The Shadow of the Pharaohs: A Historical Hegemony

The record is a stark warning for Ivory Coast. Since their first encounter in 1970 in Khartoum, the two nations have met 10 times in the Africa Cup of Nations finals. The verdict is clear: 7 Egyptian victories.

Although the Elephants cherish the memory of a clear victory in Abidjan in 1990 (3-1), the rest of the story is a series of disappointments for Ivory Coast.

Scars that are difficult to heal

For the Ivorian public, the name of Egypt is often synonymous with cruelty. Three dates symbolize this inferiority complex in the face of the North African giant:

1. 1998 (Quarter-finals): Elimination on penalties (5-4) after a tight match.
2. 2006 (Final): The trauma of Cairo. In front of a roaring stadium, the Drogba generation loses again on penalties (4-2).
3. 2008 (Semi-final): An Egyptian show of force in Kumasi (4-1), shattering the hopes of the "golden generation".

CAN 2025: Time for a paradigm shift?

At 8 p.m. this Saturday, Ivory Coast will be playing not just for a place in the semi-finals, but for its pride. Led by a talented and fearless new generation, the Ivorian team must prove it can upset the Egyptian giants in a knockout match.

"Overcoming the Indian jinx: that is the Elephants' mission for this clash that feels like a final before the final."

The stakes of the duel

Stake	Ivory Coast (Elephants)	Egypt (Pharaohs)
Objective	Breaking the historical complex	Confirm supremacy
Asset	A generation in search of glory	The experience of major events
Pressure	Huge: revenge is expected	Status of psychological favorite

This match in Agadir promises to be a pivotal moment. For Ivory Coast, eliminating Egypt would be a powerful signal of their march towards the title. For Egypt, it would be yet another demonstration of their mastery of African football.