Egypt booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after scoring twice in extra time to edge past Benin in a tense last-16 match in Marrakesh.
Clear chances were few and far between, with both sides cancelling each other out for long periods. Egypt struggled to break down a disciplined Benin defence, while Mohamed Salah remained quiet for much of the game.
After a goalless first half, Egypt finally took the lead in the 69th minute. Midfielder Marwan Attia struck a fine shot from the edge of the penalty area, finding the top corner to put the Pharaohs ahead.
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Onazi Urges Super Eagles to Seize ‘Rare Chance’ at AFCON 2025 Former Nigeria midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has challenged the Super Eagles to make the most of what he describes as a rare opportunity at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, warning that failure to win the title would be a major disappointment for a squad filled with top-quality players. Nigeria, three-time African champions, have reached the quarter-finals of the tournament in Morocco and will face Algeria on Saturday. The Super Eagles have impressed so far, with strong performances driven by star attackers Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen. Onazi, who was part of Nigeria’s AFCON-winning team in 2013, believes the current squad has the quality and momentum to go all the way. “This generation of Super Eagles need to win the AFCON title for themselves,” Onazi said. “It will be a bit shameful for players of this calibre in the squad to not touch the AFCON trophy.” Nigeria’s attacking strength has been one of the standout features of the tournament. Lookman has been directly involved in several goals through both scoring and assists, while Osimhen has also delivered important goals and leadership up front. Onazi said winning the Africa Cup of Nations can be a defining moment in a footballer’s career and urged the players to remain focused on the task ahead. “When you win the AFCON, it gives you an edge in your career. It is one of the biggest trophies in the world,” he added. “It is good for the players and good for the country.” The former Lazio midfielder also stressed that the Super Eagles must not allow any distractions to derail their campaign, especially at such a crucial stage of the competition. His comments come after Nigeria experienced brief off-field issues earlier in the week, which led to concerns over preparations. Those matters have since been resolved, with the team travelling to Marrakech and resuming full training ahead of the quarter-final clash against Algeria. With renewed focus and confidence, the Super Eagles will be aiming to take another step towards lifting the AFCON trophy and meeting the high expectations placed on them.
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Benin, who had offered little in attack, levelled the score late on. A cross from Junior Olaitan took a heavy deflection, and goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy could only push the ball back into play. Jodel Dossou reacted quickest to score the equaliser with seven minutes remaining.
With the match going into extra time, both teams continued to battle without creating many clear openings. The breakthrough came from a set piece as Yasser Ibrahim powered a looping effort past Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou to restore Egypt’s lead.
Deep into added time, Mohamed Salah sealed the win. The forward broke clear and curled a superb shot past Dandjinou from outside the box, scoring his third goal of the tournament and keeping Egypt’s hopes alive.
The defeat ends Benin’s campaign, as they failed to repeat their run to the quarter-finals in 2019. Egypt will now face either Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso in the last eight, with the match scheduled for Saturday in Agadir.
Salah, who is still chasing his first AFCON title with Egypt, has now scored three goals at the tournament. His late strike ensured the Pharaohs moved one step closer to a possible eighth continental crown.
