Egypt advanced to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, claiming a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Benin AET to extend their unbeaten H2H record to five games.
2025 Africa Cup of Nations
3-1
Match Report
Marwan Attia scored and assisted for Egypt to secure them a 3-1 victory over Benin and a place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.
Jodel Dossou had forced the extra 30 minutes after cancelling out Attia's superb strike seven minutes from time, but Yasser Ibrahim and Mohamed Salah scored in extra time to seal the win.
Egypt had the only clear first-half opening after Mohamed Hamdy's cross rebounded to Omar Marmoush, but his tame effort was comfortably cleared off the goal-line by Yohan Roche, while Rami Rabia was also denied on the line in the second half, with Tamimou Ouorou making an excellent block.
Mohamed El Shenawy then smothered Dossou's effort at the other end before Attia picked out the top-left corner from the edge of the D after latching onto Mohamed Hany's pull-back in the 69th minute.
However, Benin refused to give up; Junior Olaitan latched onto a poor pass from El Shenawy and played in the cross that had the goalkeeper backpedalling, and Dossou was on hand to turn in the rebound from close range 83 minutes in.
Seven minutes into the first period of extra time, a short corner was played into Attia, who curled a wonderful delivery onto the penalty spot and Yasser's looping header nestled into the top-left corner.
Emam Ashour lifted a dipping shot just over the bar as Egypt sought a consolation goal before Salah rounded off the scoring in the fourth minute of stoppage time, firing past Marcel Dandjinou from range after a blistering counter-attack.
𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙋𝙃𝘼𝙍𝘼𝙊𝙃𝙎' 𝙅𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙉𝙀𝙔 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙐𝙀𝙎 #egyptnt pic.twitter.com/j1bk5ggb1I
— Egypt National Team (@EgyptNT_EN) January 5, 2026
Data Debrief: Egypt find a way
Egypt did not have it all their own way in the round of 16, with Benin putting up a strong fight to try and keep their AFCON campaign alive before desperation crept in.
The expected goals (xG) finished level thanks to Salah's late goal, with both teams on 1.22, though Egypt did have more shots (12 to eight), with seven of those on target.
Though Attia got the crucial goal involvements, his goal was worth 0.09 xG, while he got an assist from one of two chances created. He also played a joint-high 23 passes in the final third, level with Salah.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
8' Match Event for Egypt vs Benin
43' Highlight from Egypt vs Benin
55' Highlight from Egypt vs Benin
69' GOAL! Egypt 1-0 Benin (Marwan Ateya)
83' GOAL! Egypt 1-1 Benin (Jodel Dossou)
88' Match Event for Egypt vs Benin
Line-ups
Egypt XI: Mohamed El Shenawy, Salah, Ramy Rabia, Trezeguet, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Hany, Mohamed Hamdi, Hamdy Fathy, Omar Marmoush, Ibrahim Adel, Marwan Ateya
Subs: Ahmed El Shenawy, Mostafa Fathi, Zizo, Mostafa Mohamed, Salah Mohsen, Ahmed Fatouh, Khaled Sobhi, Emam Ashour, Oufa Shobeir, Mahmoud Saber, Mohamed Ismail, Mohamed Shehata, Ahmed Eid, Osama Faisal, Hossam Abdelmaguid
Benin XI: Sessi D'Almeida, Olivier Verdon, Yohan Roche, Aiyegun Tosin, Marcel Dandjinou, Mohamed Tijani, Junior Olaitan, Tamimou Ouorou, Dokou Dodo, Imourane Hassane, Rodolfo Aloko
Subs: Saturnin Allagbé, Kiki, Jodel Dossou, Mattéo Ahlinvi, Rodrigue Fassinou, Rodrigue Kossi Fiogbé, Serge Obassa, Romaric Amoussou, Olatoundji Tessilimi, Mariano Ahouangbo, Charlemagne Azongnitode, Gislain Ahoudo, Attidjikou Samadou, Adam Akimey, Razack Rachidou