Africa Cup Of Nations | Monday January 5 | R16
- Egypt 3-1 Benin
Egypt were stretched to the limit but found their familiar escape route, beating a brave Benin side 3–1 after extra time on Monday night to reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.
It was a night of tension, missed chances and late twists, with the seven-time champions relying on experience and a touch of stardust to make the last eight for the 11th time.
Benin’s journey ended in pain, their disciplined and fearless display falling just short of a famous upset.
Egypt started brightly. Inside eight minutes, Mohamed Salah dropped deep and released Omar Marmoush with a precise pass, but Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou raced off his line to smother the chance.
Benin answered through Junior Olaitan, whose long-range free kick was comfortably handled by Mohamed El Shenawy.
Chances followed. Salah was crowded out at the near post after a low cross, and Yohan Roche cleared Marmoush’s follow-up off the line.
The game lost rhythm when Benin striker Aiyegun Tosin was forced off injured, before Egypt suffered their own setback as Mohamed Hamdi was stretchered off late in the half.
Salah continued to dictate play, sending Marmoush clear again before the break, only for Mohamed Tijani to time his tackle perfectly.
Benin emerged with renewed belief after halftime, while Egypt wasted another opening when Rami Rabia’s close-range effort was blocked on the line.
Salah tried his luck with a delicate chip, but Dandjinou read it well. At the other end, Jodel Dossou nearly punished Egypt, denied by a sharp El Shenawy save.
The deadlock finally broke in the 69th minute. Mohamed Hany pulled the ball back from the byline and Marwan Attia met it first time, unleashing a stunning strike into the top corner.
Benin refused to fold. In the 83rd minute, El Shenawy failed to hold Olaitan’s cross and Dossou reacted quickest, poking home a deserved equaliser to force extra time.
Egypt struck again in the 97th minute. Attia delivered from deep and Yasser Ibrahim rose to send a looping header over Dandjinou.
Benin pushed for another response but could not find it, and they were caught late on. A failed corner sent Salah sprinting clear and the captain calmly rolled the ball into an empty net to seal the win and claim his 10th AFCON goal.
Egypt march on, bruised but unbroken, and will return to the Stade Adrar on Saturday to face the winner of Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, their title dream still alive after another hard-earned AFCON night.
