Ten-Man Egypt Sink Bafana, Secure Knockout Place

The Pharaohs of Egypt have become the first team to punch their ticket to the AFCON 2025 Round of 16! In a heavyweight Group B clash in Agadir last night, Friday, December 26th, a clinical Mohamed Salah penalty was enough to secure a gritty 1-0 victory over a frustrated South African side.

The Drama: Salah Strikes, Hany Sees Red

The match exploded into life just before the interval with two moments that defined the entire contest:

• The Breakthrough (45′): After a cagey start, the referee awarded a penalty following a VAR review when Khuliso Mudau caught Mohamed Salah in the face. The Liverpool icon remained ice-cold, sending Ronwen Williams the wrong way with a “Panenka” style finish to give Egypt the lead.
• The Twist (45+2′): The Egyptian celebrations were short-lived. Just minutes later, defender Mohamed Hany was shown a second yellow card for a reckless stamp on Teboho Mokoena, leaving the Pharaohs to play the entire second half with only ten men.

The Resistance: El Shenawy’s Heroics

The second half was a story of South African siege and Egyptian defiance. Despite Bafana Bafana racking up 16 shots and dominating possession, they could not find a way past the legendary Mohamed El Shenawy. The 37-year-old goalkeeper produced three world-class saves, most notably tipping a goal-bound Lyle Foster strike around the post.

The drama reached a boiling point in the 93rd minute when South Africa appealed for a handball penalty against Yasser Ibrahim. However, after another lengthy VAR review, the referee stood his ground, much to the relief of the Egyptian bench.

📊 Group B Standings (After Matchday 2)

The Big Picture: Thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker rule, Egypt is officially confirmed as Group B winners regardless of the final match results. South Africa now faces a “do-or-die” regional derby against Zimbabwe on Monday to secure their own path to the knockouts.

About The Author

admin

See author's posts