Egypt were forced to dig deep before booking their place in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations after seeing off a spirited Benin side 3-1 after extra time on Monday night in Agadir.
The Round of 16 encounter at the Grand Stade d’Agadir lived up to expectations, with Benin pushing the seven-time champions to the limit before Egypt’s experience and composure told in the closing stages.
Benin started brightly and showed little respect for their illustrious opponents. Well-drilled and fearless, the Cheetahs frustrated Egypt for long spells in the first half, defending in numbers and springing forward on the counter through the energetic trio of David Kiki Aloko, Junior Olaitan and Jodel Dossou. Goalkeeper Saturnin Dandjinou was equally impressive, producing a string of saves to keep Mohamed Salah and company at bay.
Despite dominating possession, Egypt struggled to break through and went into the halftime break still searching for a breakthrough.
The Pharaohs emerged with greater urgency after the restart and finally found a way through in the 69th minute. Midfielder Marwan Attia broke the deadlock with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box, finishing off a move sparked by Salah down the right flank.
Just as Egypt appeared to be gaining control, Benin struck back. In the 83rd minute, Dossou pounced on a defensive lapse to level the scores and force extra time, rewarding his side’s persistence and belief.
Extra time proved to be a test of endurance and nerve, but Egypt’s pedigree eventually shone through. Centre-back Yasser Ibrahim restored the Pharaohs’ lead in the 97th minute with a looping header from a well-delivered cross, tilting the contest back in Egypt’s favour.
Benin threw bodies forward in search of another equaliser, but their attacking intent left spaces at the back. Deep into stoppage time, Salah capitalised on a swift counter-attack to score Egypt’s third goal and put the result beyond doubt.
Speaking after the match, Man of the Match Yasser Ibrahim admitted it was far from straightforward. “It was not an easy match. Benin were a good team and they scored during a difficult period for us, but we managed to regain control. Now we are already thinking about the next match,” he said.
Benin head coach Gernot Rohr praised his players despite the defeat, highlighting their fighting spirit and organisation. “It was a real battle while still playing football. I am proud of my players, their solidarity and attitude. That is very positive for the future of the Cheetahs,” Rohr noted.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan also acknowledged the challenge posed by Benin. “There are no easy matches at this level. Benin were a tough opponent, but we were mentally prepared for 90 minutes or extra time,” he said, while also expressing concern over an apparent injury to Mohamed Hamdy.
Egypt will now turn their focus to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the tie between Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. For Benin, the tournament ends with heads held high after a brave showing against one of Africa’s traditional heavyweights.
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