AFCON 2025: Egypt into the last 8 after beating Benin

Benin does not pack the bus
Facing the Egyptian pyramid, the Cheetahs showed themselves ambitious from the onset by not seating and waiting. But they will receive a sharp call to order from the 8th minute of play with Omar Marmoush. Fortunately, Marcel Dandjinou anticipated his exit to put the Manchester City striker in check.

Still too cautious defensively, Benin will still show episodes of scare behind on another offensive by the Pharaohs, but Yann Roche saved the day this time with a rescue on his line while his goalkeeper was already beaten, in the 20th minute of play.

The highlight of the first period was the exit on injury of Tosin Aiyegun in the 32nd minute, replaced by Jodel Dossou who came to bring a little more dynamism to the Beninese attack without worrying Mohammed El Shenawy.

Egypt rewarded then punished
Dominating in the first part, the Pharaons were shortly after the hour of play with a nice run by Marwan Attia who, rolling from the outside of the penalty area, beat Dandjinou on a set back by Mohamed Hany (69').

Egypt thus thought they had done the hardest to get closer to the quarter-finals. Benin did not relent their efforts at no point in the game, but rather grew in confidence as it unfolds.

7 minutes to full time at the 83rd, Jodel Dossou takes advantage of the laxity of the Egyptian defense on a deflected cross which was repelled by Mohammed El Shenawy. The men of Gernot Rohr brought life to the game, 1-1. 

The Pharaohs dig deep in extra time
It was obvious that Benin who ran the most will be physically depleted in extra time. What the Pharaohs understood well. The latter hit after only seven minutes (97th) on a lobed head from Yasser Ibrahim to gain the upper hand.

Even though they were less diligent and technically fair, Egypt still retained their advantage and even added a third goal at the very end of the game. And it is the inevitable Mohamed Salah, in a one-on-one match that drove home the nail (120+3) to validate the Pharaons' ticket for the quarter-finals. Mohamed Salah and his teammates will face Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso.