The Pharaohs of Egypt, led by their captain Mohamed Salah, have become the first team to secure a place in the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. In a tense Group B encounter in Agadir, a solitary Salah penalty was enough to see off South Africa in a 1-0 victory, despite playing the entire second half with ten men.
Salah Converts Crucial Spot-Kick Before Red Card Drama
The decisive moment arrived on the stroke of halftime. Mohamed Salah was chasing a loose ball with South African defender Khuliso Mudau when the right-back's raised arm struck the Egyptian star in the left eye. After a review via the VAR monitor, the referee from Burundi pointed to the penalty spot.
Despite a lengthy delay, the Liverpool forward kept his composure, sending goalkeeper Ronwen Williams the wrong way to give Egypt a 1-0 lead in the 45th minute. The joy was quickly tempered, however, as right-back Mohamed Hany received a second yellow card for a stamp on Teboho Mokoena in first-half added time, reducing the record champions to ten men.
Egypt's Resilient Defence Holds Firm
Facing a numerical disadvantage for the entire second half, Egypt showcased their defensive resilience and experience. South Africa, needing a goal to get back into the match, enjoyed more possession and pushed forward.
Their best chance fell to Lyle Foster, whose low shot in the 75th minute was expertly tipped to safety by Egypt's veteran goalkeeper, 37-year-old Mohamed El Shenawy. The shot-stopper was a commanding presence, making several key saves to preserve the clean sheet and the three points.
Egypt even came close to doubling their lead against the run of play, but Williams was quick off his line to deny substitute Emam Ashour after a cleverly taken free-kick.
Group B Standings and Implications
With this hard-fought victory, Egypt now have a perfect six points from two matches and are guaranteed a top-two finish in Group B. This confirms their spot in the round of 16 with one group game to spare.
South Africa, meanwhile, remain on three points after their opening win. The group's other match saw Angola and Zimbabwe play to a 1-1 draw in Marrakesh, leaving both teams with a single point. The battle for the second qualification spot is now firmly on between South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe in the final round of matches.
The match in Agadir was Salah's first start after a period of contention at club level, having not started Liverpool's previous five matches prior to the tournament. His decisive contribution for his national team will be a welcome boost as Egypt aims for a record-extending eighth AFCON title.
