Egypt 3-1 Benin after extra time. Mohamed Salah, last kick, knockout sealed. Egypt is through, and the message is loud.
Final, after extra time: Egypt 3-1 Benin. Salah scores with the final play to clinch a quarterfinal spot.
How a stalemate turned into a surge
This Africa Cup of Nations last 16 tie was tense for 90 minutes. Neither side blinked. Benin kept their shape and hunted space behind the back line. Egypt moved the ball, probed, and waited.
Extra time cracked it open. Egypt leaned on experience. The passing was cleaner. The runs were sharper. The duels tilted their way. Benin still threatened on the break, but the game flow had shifted.
Then came the final play. Mohamed Salah stepped up in the moment only true stars live for. Calm head. Quick feet. Cold finish. He sealed it, and the bench sprinted onto the pitch. The Pharaohs punched their ticket. ⚽
Salah, built for the last minute
Big games slow down for big players. Salah showed that again tonight. He picked his spot under pressure. He made a hard thing look simple. That is elite decision making in a storm.
His influence stretched beyond the goal. He dragged markers, opened lanes, and lifted teammates. When the clock ticked tight, he wanted the ball. Leaders do that. He did it with a clear mind and a ruthless touch.
This is what separates contenders from hopefuls. When the legs get heavy, you need a finisher who stays sharp. Egypt has that. Egypt has Salah.
Tactics and turning points
Benin came ready. Compact lines. Aggressive in transition. Their wide players ran at space and forced retreats. Their midfield tracked runners and won second balls. For long stretches, they frustrated Egypt’s rhythm.
Egypt adjusted. The fullbacks picked better moments to push. The midfield sat a little higher and closed passing lanes. The wide forwards attacked the half spaces, not just the touchline. It was subtle, but it mattered. Extra time magnified those tweaks.
Egypt’s bench depth also told. Fresh legs kept the press honest. Set pieces were more dangerous. The tempo stayed high when it could have dipped. That is how you win knockouts, not by flair alone, but by control when it counts.
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The margins that mattered
- Game management in extra time was excellent.
- Senior players stayed composed in duels and decisions.
- Benin’s counters stayed live, but Egypt’s recovery runs improved.
- The final ball had more bite as spaces opened.
What this win means for Egypt’s title push
This was not art for 120 minutes. It was grit and clarity in the moments that define tournaments. Egypt showed they can suffer, then strike. That travels in knockout football. The quarterfinals will demand even more, but this is a strong marker.
Salah’s form is a compass for this team. When he is decisive, belief spreads. The back line will still want cleaner exits under pressure. The attack will want to finish earlier and spare nerves. But the core is there, and the ceiling is high.
Egypt also leaned on its football culture tonight. Years of tight AFCON nights have shaped this group. The shirts carry a standard. You felt it in extra time, in every tackle and every sprint.
Quick turnaround ahead. Recovery and focus become the next battle before the quarterfinal.
Benin’s brave exit
Benin leaves with pride. They pushed a giant to the limit. Their discipline and speed caused real problems. They played without fear and asked hard questions. On another night, one big chance falls their way and changes the story. It did not, but the effort was fierce and worthy.
The bottom line
Egypt lives to fight again, and does so with momentum. The final play belonged to Salah, and it felt like destiny. The Pharaohs advance to the quarterfinals, their belief fueled by a star who comes alive when the stakes rise. Benin bow out with honor, heads high, and a performance that will linger.
Egypt’s hunt for the crown stays on. The path is never smooth in this tournament. But nights like this build champions.
