Salah goal seals Egypt's spot in AFCON quarters

Salah's Egypt Need Extra Time to Get Past Bruising Benin, Reach AFCON Quarterfinals

Egypt advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 quarterfinals with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Benin on January 5, 2026, in Agadir, but it required extra time after a tense, physical battle.[1][2]

The Pharaohs, Africa's most successful AFCON team, dominated possession but struggled to break down Benin's resilient defense, which targeted star forward Mohamed Salah relentlessly. The breakthrough came in the 68th minute when Marwan Attia curled a stunning strike from distance into the net, giving Egypt a 1-0 lead.[1][2]

Benin fought back late, equalizing in the 84th minute through Jodel Dossou, who poked home after Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy parried a goalbound shot into his path. The Cheetahs' disciplined defending and counterattacking kept the tie level through regulation time.[1][2]

Extra time saw Egypt reassert control. Seven minutes in, Yasser Ibrahim rose spectacularly to head a driven Attia cross past keeper Dandjinou, contorting his body for a sensational goal that arched into the net.[1]

With Benin pushing for an unlikely equalizer, Salah sealed the win in the 123rd minute—stoppage time of extra time—on a lightning breakaway. Racing clear, he fired past Dandjinou for his fourth goal of the tournament and 10th in AFCON history, becoming only the third Egyptian to reach that milestone.[1][2][3]

Earlier, Salah had a chance one minute from full time but opted to shoot instead of passing, only for the keeper to save. His composure paid off later.[1]

Egypt, returning to the quarters for the first time since finishing as runners-up in Cameroon four years ago, avoided an early exit not seen since 2002. They remain in Agadir for their January 10 quarterfinal.[1]

The match highlighted Egypt's patience and quality under pressure against Benin's grit, with Salah's decisive finish capping a bruising encounter.[2][3]

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