🚨 Egypt qualify to AFCON quarter finals!
January 5, 2026
278d agoEgypt secured a hard-fought place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after a dramatic 3-1 extra-time victory over a resilient Benin side in Agadir on Monday night. The Pharaohs, seeking a record-extending eighth continental title, were pushed to the limit in the Round of 16 by a determined opponent before booking their spot in the final eight for the 21st time in their history.
After a tense first half with few clear chances, the game burst into life in the second period. Egypt broke the deadlock with just over 20 minutes of normal time to play when midfielder Marwan Attia unleashed a superb long-range strike into the top corner. The match seemed to be heading for a narrow conclusion until Benin's Jodel Dossou equalized with just seven minutes remaining, capitalizing on a loose ball in the box to force an additional 30 minutes.
Extra time produced a thrilling conclusion, with Egypt's superior experience proving decisive. The winner came from an unlikely source in the second period of extra time, as defender Yasser Ibrahim looped a difficult shot over the Benin goalkeeper from inside the penalty area. The iconic Mohamed Salah then sealed the win in the final minute of the match, racing clear on the counter-attack and finishing expertly from outside the box to ensure safe passage for his team.
With the victory, Egypt advances to a quarter-final match on Saturday in Agadir. They will face the winner of Tuesday's heavyweight clash between defending champions Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Having survived a major scare, the Pharaohs remain firmly in the hunt for their first AFCON crown since 2010.
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