AFCON 2025: Mo Salah Continues To Shine As Extra Time Does The Trick For Egypt

Just as it was predicted in the pre-match review, it was tougher than expected for one of the press tournament favourites, Egypt at the ongoing AFCON in Morocco, but in the end, they managed to get the job done and advance to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

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The unconvincing fashion in which both teams advanced from the group stages suggested this encounter may not be a classic but Egypt were very much keen to avoid another round of exit, just like in the last two editions against a team that was appearing in their first AFCON knockout game since 2019.

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It was a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Benin in extra time to extend their unbeaten record to five games against this same opponent as they failed to win it normal time despite taking the lead even if the first half ended goalless but it definitely wasn’t from lack of trying.

Egypt knew they were the better side and they did start the match on the front foot and they could have taken the lead with only eight minutes on the clock when a through ball put Omar Marmoush one-on-one with Marcel Dandjinou, but after electing not to shoot, the forward was dispossessed by the onrushing goalkeeper.

With the Cheetah’s primary focus on staying in the contest during the first half, they failed to carve out any real chance but still they had their moments and it came when Junior Olaitan’s free-kick from distance was gathered by Mohamed El Shenawy immediately after Egypt’s miss.

Not long after, the Pharaohs threatened to take the lead when a loose ball inside the area was poked goalwards by Marmoush, but he couldn’t produce the required power, and the effort was blocked on its path to goal and at this point, Benin were battling away to remain in the contest, and they came close to taking the lead shortly after the hour mark.

A precise through ball played in Jodel Dossou, yet his effort was saved by El Shenawy, who rushed off his line to good effect, thwarting the substitute from close range. With 69 minutes played, it looked as if Egypt had put one foot in the quarter-finals in stunning fashion with the first goal of the game.

A ball from the byline was pulled back to Marwan Attia, whose powerful first-time effort flew into the top-left corner of the net but the Cheetahs refused to give in, and with just seven minutes of normal time remaining, they dramatically drew level when Dossou forced the ball home on the rebound.

With no winner after 90 minutes, the game went into extra time and the tension was obviously getting to the Egyptian but they kept their cool and eventually, they found the lead again, seven minutes into extra time in which they restored their lead once again through the scorer of the first goal.

This time, he was the creator as Attia’s cross into the area found Yasser Ibrahim, who sent his header looping over the despairing Dandjinou and into the net and this goal looked to have broken Benin’s spirit, and in the final minute of added time as they conceded yet another goal.

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This time around, it was a familiar name as Mo Salah put the seal on the win with a well-taken finish on the counter, ensuring safe passage to the quarter-finals, where they will meet either Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso next and they are now just three victories away from a first competition win since 2010.

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