Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt’s national team claimed a hard-fought 1–0 victory over South Africa on Friday to seal qualification for the round of 16 and secure top spot in their group at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, showing resilience and discipline despite playing the entire second half with ten men.
The match, played at Adrar Stadium in the Moroccan city of Agadir as part of the second round of group-stage fixtures, was decided by a first-half penalty converted by captain Mohamed Salah. The result lifted Egypt to six points from two matches, confirming their place in the knockout stage with a game to spare.
The opening minutes were marked by caution from both sides, with Egypt opting for a compact defensive shape and quick transitions. Salah and Omar Marmoush looked to exploit space on the break, while South Africa sought to control possession without creating clear chances early on.
The first significant moment came midway through the first half when South African midfielder Teboho Mokoena was booked for a strong challenge on Marmoush during a counterattack. Marmoush soon tested the defense with a direct free kick that narrowly missed the post, while South Africa responded through Foster, whose close-range effort was calmly saved by Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.
Controversy followed late in the first half. After an initial decision to play on when Salah went down in the penalty area, the referee was called to review the incident using VAR. Replays showed Salah had been struck in the face off the ball, prompting the referee to award a penalty in the 43rd minute. Salah stepped up and calmly sent the ball down the middle to give Egypt the lead just before halftime.
Moments later, Egypt’s task became significantly more difficult. Right-back Mohamed Hany received a second yellow card for a late challenge deep into stoppage time, leaving the Pharaohs to defend their advantage with ten players for the entire second half.
Head coach Hossam Hassan reshuffled his side at the break, introducing Imam Ashour to restore balance, while South Africa pushed forward aggressively in search of an equalizer. The pressure intensified as shots rained in from distance and crosses flooded Egypt’s penalty area, but El Shenawy produced a series of outstanding saves to preserve the lead.
South Africa came close on several occasions, including a powerful long-range strike from Mokoena and a late effort from Modiba following a clever backheel assist, both denied by the Egyptian goalkeeper. In stoppage time, Egypt survived a final scare when a fierce shot drifted narrowly wide of the post.
A potential penalty for South Africa was also overturned after a VAR review ruled out a handball, adding to the tense closing moments of the match.
Egypt began the tournament with a 2–1 victory over Mozambique and now sit comfortably atop their group with six points. South Africa remain second on three points, while Zimbabwe and Angola trail with one point each. Egypt’s final group match against Angola on Monday will have no bearing on their qualification, but the performance against South Africa sent a clear message about the team’s defensive resolve and tournament ambitions.
Despite the numerical disadvantage and sustained pressure, the Pharaohs once again demonstrated their pedigree on the continental stage, blending experience, tactical discipline, and individual brilliance to take another step toward a deep run at AFCON 2025.
