Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt booked their place in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations after a dramatic 3–1 extra-time victory over Benin in the Round of 16, in a match that tested the Pharaohs’ resilience and patience over 120 intense minutes in Morocco.
The seven-time continental champions appeared to be heading for a routine progression when midfielder Marwan Attia finally broke the deadlock in the 69th minute with a powerful long-range strike. However, Benin refused to surrender, forcing extra time after substitute Dosso equalized late in normal time, before Egypt’s experience and depth ultimately made the difference.
The match began at a high tempo, with Egypt creating early chances that hinted at control but lacked efficiency. Omar Marmoush missed a clear opportunity just seven minutes in after being sent through one-on-one by Mohamed Salah, only for the Benin goalkeeper to react quickly and smother the attempt. Egypt also appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty in the 11th minute following a strong challenge on Ibrahim Adel, but the referee waved play on.
Benin, disciplined and compact, looked to threaten on the counterattack and through set pieces, earning a free kick near Egypt’s penalty area in the 17th minute and later testing the Egyptian defense with quick transitions. Egypt, meanwhile, continued to press, with Salah and Marmoush both denied in a crowded penalty area as Benin’s defenders blocked multiple goal-bound efforts.
The first half was also disrupted by injuries. Benin were forced into an early substitution when Tosin was replaced by Dosso in the 31st minute, a change that would later prove decisive. Egypt then suffered a worrying moment of their own when Mohamed Hamdy was injured following an aerial challenge. The left-back was visibly distressed as he left the pitch, replaced by Ahmed Fatouh just before halftime.
After the break, Egypt maintained their attacking approach while Benin retreated deeper into their own half, relying on defensive organization and sporadic counters. Marmoush remained Egypt’s most active outlet, but his individual runs repeatedly broke down under pressure. The closest chance of the early second half came from a corner in the 55th minute, when Rami Rabia’s effort was cleared off the line.
Head coach Hossam Hassan attempted to shift the momentum with substitutions, introducing Ahmed Sayed “Zizo” and Emam Ashour before the hour mark. Salah soon missed another opportunity, attempting a delicate finish after a clever pass from Zizo, while Benin nearly capitalized on a rare defensive lapse before Mohamed El-Shenawy intervened decisively.
Egypt’s breakthrough finally arrived in the 69th minute through a well-constructed move. Salah found Mohamed Hany on the right flank, whose cutback was met by the late-arriving Marwan Attia. The midfielder unleashed a thunderous shot that left the goalkeeper helpless and appeared to put Egypt on course for the quarterfinals.
Yet Benin responded with renewed belief. As Egypt wasted chances to seal the match including a glaring miss from Salah late in regulation time, Benin equalized in the 83rd minute. Dosso pounced on a rebound after El-Shenawy had initially saved, turning the match on its head and sending it into extra time.
In the additional 30 minutes, Egypt’s experience began to show. Just seven minutes into the first extra-time period, Yasser Ibrahim rose to meet a cross from Marwan Attia, heading home to restore Egypt’s lead. Despite visible fatigue and growing pressure from Benin, Hossam Hassan opted against further substitutions, trusting his core players to see the match through.
Benin pushed forward desperately in the closing stages, searching for another equalizer, but Egypt held firm. In stoppage time of the second extra-time period, Mohamed Salah delivered the decisive blow. Latching onto a forward move, the Liverpool star finished calmly in the 123rd minute, ending Benin’s resistance and confirming Egypt’s passage to the last eight.
The victory underscored both Egypt’s attacking quality and their ongoing struggles with game management and finishing, issues that will need addressing as the tournament progresses. For Benin, the defeat was a painful end to a brave and disciplined campaign that pushed one of Africa’s giants to the limit.
Egypt now advance to the quarterfinals, where tougher challenges await as they continue their pursuit of an eighth Africa Cup of Nations title.
