Mohamed Salah scored deep into extra time as Egypt booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Benin on Monday night.
The Round of 16 encounter was fiercely contested, with both sides showing intensity and discipline in a first half that produced few clear-cut chances. Egypt enjoyed slightly more possession, but neither team managed to find a breakthrough before the interval.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 69th minute when Mohamed Hany picked out Marwan Attia, who fired a powerful strike from the edge of the box past the Benin goalkeeper to put the Pharaohs ahead.
However, Benin refused to go quietly. The Cheetahs responded with renewed belief and were rewarded in the 83rd minute when Jodel Dossou struck from close range to force the game into extra time.
Egypt regained control seven minutes into the first period of extra time as defender Yasser Ibrahim rose highest to head home a Marwan Attia cross, restoring the Pharaohs’ lead.
As Benin pushed forward in search of another equaliser, space opened up at the back, and Egypt made it count in the final moments. Salah sealed the win with a composed finish from the last attack of the match, underlining his importance on the big stage.
The victory sends Egypt into the last eight, where they will face the winner of the Round of 16 tie between Nigeria and Mozambique.
