Egypt booked their place within the spherical of 16 on the Africa Cup of Nations after edging South Africa 1–0 in a tense Group B encounter, with Mohamed Salah’s first-half penalty proving decisive in Agadir.
Each side got here into the conflict stuffed with confidence after slender opening-day victories. Egypt wanted a stoppage-time purpose from Salah to beat Zimbabwe, whereas South Africa relied on Lyle Foster’s late strike to beat Angola.
With one other win all however guaranteeing qualification, the stakes have been excessive — and it was the Pharaohs who delivered when it mattered most.
South Africa, unbeaten of their earlier six conferences with Egypt, confirmed early attacking intent. Foster got here shut within the twenty ninth minute after muscling his manner into house contained in the field, however his effort lacked the facility to hassle goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.
Egypt regularly grew into the competition and created the primary clear opening when Mohamed Hany surged down the suitable flank and flashed a harmful cross throughout purpose, simply evading Salah. Omar Marmoush later went shut from a free-kick that curled narrowly vast after Teboho Mokoena was booked for a foul outdoors the world.
The decisive second arrived two minutes earlier than half-time. Salah went down within the penalty space following contact from Khuliso Mudau, prompting a VAR overview. Referee Pacifique Ndabihaweniman awarded a penalty and booked each Mudau and Foster for his or her protests.
Salah stepped up and calmly clipped the ball straight down the center to attain his sixty fifth worldwide purpose, giving Egypt the lead on the stroke of half-time. The state of affairs worsened for the Pharaohs moments later when Hany was proven a second yellow card for a late problem, leaving Egypt to play all the second half with 10 males.
Regardless of the numerical drawback, Egypt defended with composure after the break. Salah and Trezeguet mixed to arrange Emam Ashour, whose low effort was nicely blocked by Ronwen Williams. South Africa responded with elevated strain, and Mudau pressured El Shenawy into a pointy save as Bafana Bafana looked for an equaliser.
Late drama adopted when a South African effort struck Yasser Ibrahim’s arm contained in the field, sparking loud appeals for a penalty. After VAR intervention, the referee upheld his on-field determination to award a free-kick as an alternative, permitting Egypt to protect their slender benefit.
The ultimate whistle confirmed Egypt’s first aggressive win over South Africa since 2006 and made them the primary staff to safe qualification for the knockout stage at AFCON 2025.
The outcome revived reminiscences of South Africa’s well-known knockout victory over Egypt in Cairo in 2019, whereas Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan was a part of the squad that defeated Bafana Bafana within the 1998 AFCON ultimate. South Africa coach Hugo Broos additionally has historical past in opposition to the Pharaohs, having led Cameroon to victory over Egypt within the 2017 ultimate.
South Africa now face a must-win Group B encounter in opposition to Zimbabwe on Monday, whereas Egypt, already assured of a spot within the final 16, will tackle Angola with high spot within the group firmly of their sights.
