Salah seals AFCON last-16 victory for Egypt over brave Benin
Captain Mohamed Salah netted the winner in the 124th minute to secure a 3-1 win for Egypt against resilient underdogs Benin during a gripping Africa Cup of Nations knockout clash in Agadir on Monday.
Marwan Attia gave the Pharaohs the lead midway through the second half, with Jodel Dossou responding for the Cheetahs to force extra time in this tense encounter by the southern Moroccan coast.
Yasser Ibrahim restored Egypts advantage with a header early in extra time, before Salah surged forward and fired past keeper Marcel Dandjinou from distance for his tenth tournament strike.
Salah, renowned for his key goals that have lifted Liverpool to numerous honours, is chasing his debut AFCON title after finishing as runner-up on two previous occasions.
The seven-time record holders Egypt remain in Agadir for a quarter-final showdown on Saturday against either defending champions Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso.
Egypt rotated ten players from the side that shared a draw with Angola in their last group game a week earlier, keeping only midfielder Ibrahim Adel in the lineup.
Several AFCON sides that locked in knockout progression early mirrored Egypts approach by deploying mostly backup players in their concluding group fixtures.
Benin missed their skipper and ex-Premier League forward Steve Mounie, sidelined by an unspecified health issue.
Egypt squandered an early opportunity just eight minutes in via Omar Marmoush, the 26-year-old who moved to Manchester City last year from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Marmoush broke from deep in his own territory, seized the ball, and outpaced two chasing defenders, only for Dandjinou to deny him by blocking with his feet before securing possession.
Benins centre-back Yohan Roche came to the rescue shortly after another Egyptian foray, hacking clear as the ball rolled towards goal.
Collision
A heavy clash between Mohamed Hamdy and Rodolfo Aloko caused a lengthy stoppage, culminating in the Egyptian being stretchered away, with Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh replacing him in midfield.
Though Egypt dominated possession in the first period, Benin stood firm, requiring a fine sliding challenge from Hamdy Fathy to thwart a Benin breakaway.
An episode late in stoppage time highlighted Benins caution around Salah; as the skipper picked up the ball near the penalty area, three defenders swiftly closed him down.
Dandjinou earned his keep ten minutes into the second half by courageously tipping away a point-blank effort from Ramy Rabia after the defender latched onto a loose ball from a set piece.
With the game surpassing the hour, it grew more fluid. Salahs lob over the keeper was brilliantly tipped over by an acrobatic Dandjinou.
In response, veteran Egyptian shot-stopper Mohamed El Shenawy, aged 37, clawed away a dangerous cross from Mohamed Tijani, denying substitute Dossou a potential upset.
Attia broke the deadlock as Marmoush laid off for him outside the box, allowing the midfielder to curl a first-time shot into the top corner.
Benin battled on relentlessly, pulling level in the 83rd minute courtesy of veteran Dossou at 33.
El Shenawy excelled in pushing away Tijanis delivery, but it looped perfectly for Dossou to bundle home.
Egypt retook control seven minutes into the additional period, Attia again pivotal as he whipped in from a short corner routine, enabling Ibrahims arcing header to drop beyond Dandjinou.
Salah sealed matters emphatically, marking his third goal of the competition.