What looked like a routine win turned into a 120-minute nightmare for Egyptian fans as the "Cheetahs" of Benin pushed the giants to the absolute brink of elimination.
The Match Timeline: From Control to Chaos
Egypt dominated possession for the first hour but found themselves frustrated by a wall of yellow shirts. It took a moment of individual brilliance to break the deadlock, but Benin refused to go quietly into the night.
• 69’ GOAL! Marwan Attia finally breaks the tension, curling a stunning 30-yard strike into the top corner.
• 83’ SHOCK EQUALIZER! Just as Egypt started celebrating, Benin’s Jodel Dossou pounced on a rebound to silence the Pharaohs and force the game into extra time.
• 97’ THE LEAD RESTORED! Yasser Ibrahim rises highest from a corner to power home a header, putting Egypt back in front.
• 120+4’ SALAH SEALS IT! With the literal last kick of the game, Mohamed Salah finished a lightning-fast counter-attack to make it 3-1 and guarantee safe passage.
Match Statistics: A Tale of Survival
| Category | Egypt | Benin |
| Final Score | 3 | 1 |
| Shots (On Target) | 18 (8) | 9 (4) |
| Possession | 62% | 38% |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 3 |
| Man of the Match | Yasser Ibrahim | Marcel Dandjinou |
What’s Next for the Pharaohs?
Egypt now moves on to the Quarter-Finals, where they will stay in Agadir to face either Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso this Saturday. While the victory keeps their dream of an eighth title alive, manager Hossam Hassan will be concerned by how easily Benin breached his defense late in normal time.
One thing is for certain: with Mohamed Salah finding his scoring touch at the perfect moment, no one will want to face Egypt in the next round.