Agadir, Morocco – Mohamed Salah's penalty secured a crucial 1-0 victory for Egypt against South Africa in a hard-fought Group B match at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025. The win, played at Adrar Stadium, ensured Egypt's place in the round of 16.
The game began with high intensity, as both sides were aware of what was at stake. Egypt dominated possession early on, with Salah and Omar Marmoush creating dangerous opportunities. South Africa remained compact and disciplined, looking to counterattack.
The decisive moment arrived in the 43rd minute when Egypt was awarded a penalty after Khuliso Mudau fouled inside the penalty area. Salah stepped up and confidently converted the penalty, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Egypt the lead.
However, Egypt's lead was soon complicated when Mohamed Hany received a second yellow card just before halftime and was sent off. This left Egypt to play the entire second half with 10 men.
Despite being a man down, Egypt showed resilience and tactical discipline to maintain their lead. South Africa increased the tempo and put pressure on the Egyptian defense, but the Pharaohs stood firm. Goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy made several key saves to deny South Africa an equalizer.
South Africa pushed hard in the second half, testing Egypt's defense with direct balls and late runs into the box. A VAR check for a potential South Africa penalty was waved off. Egypt responded by dropping deeper and looking for opportunities to break.
In the end, Egypt held on for a narrow 1-0 victory. The win moved Egypt to six points in Group B, securing their spot in the knockout stage. South Africa, who also won their opening match against Angola, will need to work harder in the final round.
The match was the first of the tournament's mouth-watering ties and was followed by Nigeria against Tunisia on Saturday. The AFCON 2025 began on December 21, with the final scheduled for January 18.
Egypt's victory over South Africa highlighted their determination and ability to grind out results even under pressure. The team will now look to build on this win as they aim for a record-extending eighth AFCON title.
