Seattle Sounders defender Nouhou’s run through the African Cup of Nations fell just short as they went out on penalties against Egypt in the tournament’s semifinal on Thursday.
The tournament has been a coming out party on the global stage for Nouhou, with the 24-year-old locking down a starting spot in all six matches for the hosts. Nouhou earned plenty of plaudits for his performances throughout the competition. And he saved his best display for today’s matchup against Egypt and Mo Salah.
Lined up in a direct battle with the Liverpool winger, who is arguably the best player on the planet at the moment, Nouhou kept Salah quiet for the entirety of the 120 minutes. In addition to breaking up most of Egypt’s dangerous moments in transition, Nouhou limited Salah to just 12 touches in the first half.
With the tenor of the match getting especially nervy entering extra time, Nouhou once again elevated his play. The Sounders defender, who earned MLS All-Star status in 2021, provided several crucial blocks and even launched two of Cameroon’s most dangerous scoring opportunities as the match inched toward penalties.
The beIN SPORTS broadcaster were equally impressed by Nouhou’s outing in the semifinal, remarking how he had shut down Salah all evening and even naming him their man of the match when it ended scoreless after both periods of extra time.
It was a difficult ending, though, as Egypt emerged victorious by a score of 3-1 in the penalty kick shootout. Cameroon will now face Burkina Faso in a rematch of the tournament's opening game -- the hosts won 2-1 in that meeting -- in the third place game on February 5.
Nouhou and the Seattle Sounders will kick off the 2022 season when they face FC Motagua in a two-legged affair in the Round of 16 of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, with Round One in Honduras on February 17 and Round Two at Lumen Field one week later.
You can get tickets to all Sounders FC home matches at Lumen Field HERE.
