Egypt secured their place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals on Monday with a 3-1 extra-time victory over a resilient Benin side in Agadir. Mohamed Salah sealed the win with the final kick of the game in the 124th minute, though the record seven-time champions were forced to dig deep after being held to a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Marwan Attia had initially broken the deadlock for the Pharaohs in the 69th minute with a side-footed finish, only for Jodel Dossou to pounce on a rebound in the 83rd minute to force the extra period.
The Pharaohs regained control early in extra time when Yasser Ibrahim met Attia’s cross with a looping header that evaded goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou. Salah then added the gloss on a late counterattack, curling a strike from outside the box to record his third goal of the tournament and 10th overall in AFCON history.
Despite the win, Salah played down his side’s status as title contenders. "I don’t think we are a favourite at all," Salah said. "We have young players, and most of them play in Egypt. We just fight for our country... everybody gives their best and you could see today."
The victory came at a physical cost for Hossam Hassan’s side, as left-back Mohamed Hamdy was stretchered off with a serious knee injury before halftime. Coach Hassan praised his team’s mental fortitude in the face of the setback, stating, "We are sad about the injury to Mohamed Hamdy, which seems serious. His teammates played for him. We are mentally prepared to play either 90 minutes or extra time."
The Pharaohs also lost Trezeguet to injury in the second half, adding to the selection concerns ahead of the next round.
Benin, ranked 58 places below Egypt, were hampered by the absence of captain and lead striker Steve Mounie due to illness. While they managed to frustrate the Egyptian attack for long periods, coach Gernot Rohr acknowledged the difference in individual pedigree.
"What we saw was a match that was a fight, a real battle," Rohr said. "When you look at the Egyptian players, we do not have the same level. We missed our best striker Steve Mounie. He would have helped us a lot, particularly in aerial play."
Egypt will remain in Agadir for their quarterfinal clash on Saturday, where they will face either defending champions Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso. Salah, who is seeking his first AFCON trophy after two previous runner-up finishes, noted the rising competitiveness of the tournament.
"The level is quite similar. I told the team yesterday that no side loses by four or five goals," he remarked. The Pharaohs now have an extra day of rest as they continue their pursuit of a record-extending eighth continental title.
