Africa Cup of Nations – Agadir
The Egyptian national football team has advanced to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations “Morocco 2025” after defeating Benin 3-1. The thrilling Round of 16 match, held at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir, required extra time to determine a winner after the teams were tied at the end of regular play, following a game marked by significant shifts in performance and score.
Even First Half and Mutual Caution
Both teams adopted a balanced approach in the opening minutes, displaying caution with tentative attempts to breach defenses, none of which resulted in a goal. Despite some promising opportunities, particularly from the Egyptian side which focused on possession and building play from the back, attacking efficacy was lacking from both teams. The first half concluded without goals.
Late Goals Ignite the Contest
In the second half, the pace of play intensified, and the “Pharaohs” began to exert pressure on Benin’s goal. This pressure paid off in the 69th minute when Marwan Attia scored the first goal with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area that found the net.
Benin refused to yield and managed to equalize in the 83rd minute through Jodel Dossou, who capitalized on a defensive mix-up in the Egyptian backline, forcing the match into extra time.
Decisive Extra Time
At the start of the first period of extra time, Egypt’s physical and tactical superiority became evident. They dominated the midfield and scored their second goal in the 97th minute through Yasser Ibrahim, who headed home a precise cross from Marwan Attia.
As the match neared its conclusion, Benin intensified their efforts for an equalizer, but the spaces they left behind were cleverly exploited by the “Pharaohs.”
Mohamed Salah Secures Progression
In the final moments of the second period of extra time, specifically in the 123rd minute, star player Mohamed Salah extinguished Benin’s hopes by scoring the third goal, officially confirming Egypt’s superiority and their qualification.
With this victory, the Egyptian national team continues its presence in the advanced stages of the tournament, bolstering their ambitions to compete for the continental title.
Quarter-Final Date
In the quarter-finals, Egypt will face the winner of the Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso match, scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, in Marrakech.
The quarter-final match is anticipated to take place next Saturday at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir, kicking off at 8:00 PM, amidst high public anticipation.
