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Report: Salah seals last-16 win
Yasser Ibrahim’s superb header and Mohamed Salah’s breakaway strike earned record seven-time champions Egypt a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory over Benin in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 on Monday.
Egypt led after 69 minutes through a superb 30-yard strike from Marwan Attia, but Benin forced the game into an additional 30 minutes when they equalised late on through Jodel Dossou. Ibrahim, who plays in defence, scored his first international goal on 97 minutes when he met Attia’s cross with a header from 15 yards that looped into the top corner of the net, and Salah raced clear to add the third with the last kick of the game.
Egypt will face the defending champions, Côte d’Ivoire, or Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals in Agadir on Saturday. Reuters
Updated at 14.20 EST
That’ll be all from me. Make sure to tune-in tomorrow for our Algeria v DR Congo MBM. Cheers!
Egypt will face either Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals. Benin can at least depart with their first Afcon victory in normal time, having beaten Botswana in the group stage.
Benin were resolute in that first 90, and particularly brilliant after going behind. But they tired in extra time and a well-worked corner did for them, Yasser Ibrahim’s immaculate header setting up the victory. Mo Salah got his 10th goal in Afcon football to wrap it up, his third in this edition.
ShareEXTRA TIME, FULL TIME: Egypt 3-1 Benin
It was far from straightforward for the seven-time winners … but they’re through to the quarters.
Egypt break from a Benin corner, Salah is played in through the middle, and with the keeper way off his line, the Liverpool man calmly slots home from outside the area with the outside of his boot.
Updated at 14.07 EST
GOAL! Egypt 3-1 Benin (Salah 120+4)
It had to be.
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah scores his side’s third goal. Photograph: Mosa’ab Elshamy/APShare
Updated at 14.08 EST
120+2 min: Dandjinou pumps the ball long for Benin … but the punts forward are only finding red shirts.
120+1 min: Benin waste a precious corner; the lively Olaïtan sends the ball out of bounds.
Updated at 14.11 EST
120 min: Marmoush makes way as Salah has the ball again … he lays off for Ashour on the edge of the area, but the shot flies over the bar.
118 min: Salah breaks down the right, has his shirt pulled but he keeps on going … except the referee stops play for the foul! Salah’s left annoyed; he had plenty of options to play in. His shirt has ripped, too.
117 min: Ashour has the option to dink the ball into the area for Zizo … he opts for the flashy hit from range that ends up high and wide.
116 min: El Shenawy collects a flicked-on header and Benin’s men on the bench are starting to look a bit glum.
115 min: Salah has space on the right but Ashour gives the ball away for Egypt. Benin work the ball beautifully down the left and launch a series of attacks … but a foul on the retreating Salah breaks the momentum.
112 min: It’s in the right channel for Benin, set up for a left-footed strike … the ball is laid off for Tijani to launch but his shot is blocked. That’s a waste.
110 min: Egypt wheel it around in defence, keeping calm … until Tessilimi wins a free-kick on the edge of the area. Huge chance for Benin …
108 min: Attidjikou receives a yellow for a very silly two-footed sliding challenge on Zizo.
106 min: Play resumes, with Marmoush and Salah threatening to cause some trouble as they launch a press against the Benin defence.
Updated at 13.26 EST
There was handball shout against Ashour from a Benin long throw in that half … but replays suggest the ref made the right call.
ShareEXTRA TIME, HALF TIME: Egypt 2-1 Benin
The players are absolutely knackered. Egypt are 15 minutes away from ending a very tense evening.
105 + 1 min: Egypt camp up in their half, with Yasser Ibrahim sliding in for an interception.
104 min: Marmoush releases Zizo on the left for Egypt before they retreat, keeping hold of the ball.
103 min: Time for a Benin long throw … it’s headed to safety and Salah is back to defend as well.
Updated at 14.12 EST
101 min: Benin are still waiting for their first chance in extra time.
The corner is played short before a cross is sent in from the left, a curling ball in; Ibrahim, near the penalty spot, opens up his body to guide a header into the top left corner. Sublime work.
Updated at 13.17 EST
GOAL! Egypt 2-1 Benin (Yasser Ibrahim 97)
A lovely, lovely header.
Egypt’s Yasser Ibrahim scores his side’s second goal. Photograph: Mosa’ab Elshamy/APShare
Updated at 13.18 EST
97 min: Marmoush finally has a sliver of space on the edge of the area … his shot is deflected and out for a corner.
96 min: The long diagonal balls keep on coming from Egypt as they try to get Salah in position to strike.
94 min: Salah overhits a ball to the left wing with his right foot, aiming for Zizo.
93 min: Salah takes down a long diagonal ball, a cute touch inside leaves him in a position for a trademark curler from the right … but a wayward touch breaks the move down.
91 min: Egypt launch down the left, a cross into the area met by a diving, defensive header.
Benin upset Morocco in the last 16 back in 2019, prevailing on penalties. Time for something similar against Afcon’s most successful side?
ShareWe’re going to extra time
An upset is still on the cards.
Updated at 13.02 EST
90+6 min: The ball is stuck on Benin’s right wing, throw-ins on repeat.
90+5 min: Salah goes down but play continues … he cuts in and crosses, but a decent ball to the far post beats everyone.
90+3 min: Play resumes as Salah threatens again down the right.
90+2 min: We’ve got seven added minutes though play has been paused; Aloko has been stretchered off for Benin.
90 min: The Benin bench are off the, um, bench, counting down the seconds. Extra time beckons.
89 min: Salah runs in behind on the right, picking up on a dinked ball over the top, he opens up his body to try curl the ball in … but it’s a poor effort straight at the keeper. That’s the closest he’s come to scoring.
87 min: Benin aren’t sitting back here; they want a winner as a testing low ball is played into the Egypt area.
85 min: A reminder that Dossou came on in the first half for the injured Tosin; he could finish tonight as the hero.
ShareGOAL! Egypt 1-1 Benin (Dossou 83)
Oh my days. Olaïtan crosses from the right but it takes a wicked deflection, the ball looping into the net … the wrongfooted El Shenawy dives to make a brilliant save but the sliding Dossou is there for the tap in. Benin are bouncing and, man, do they believe; they’ve been brilliant ever since that Egypt goal.
Benin’s forward Jodel Dossou (C) celebrates scoring. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 12.55 EST