Egypt secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over South Africa in a Group B showdown at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2025, with captain Mohamed Salah converting a first-half penalty to send the Pharaohs into the knockout rounds.
The match, played at Le Grand Stade d’Agadir, was tightly contested throughout, but it was Salah’s cool finish from the penalty spot late in the first half that made the difference. The spot kick was awarded after a VAR review ruled that South African defender Khuliso Mudau had clipped Salah in the box, a decision that sparked debate after the final whistle.
Salah’s strike, his second goal of the tournament, proved decisive and was enough to keep record seven-time AFCON champions Egypt unbeaten in Group B. The win took Egypt to 6 points, topping the group, while South Africa remained on 3 points following their earlier victory over Angola.
The game took an additional twist when Egyptian right-back Mohamed Hany was sent off just before halftime after receiving his second yellow card, leaving the Pharaohs to defend with ten men for the entire second half. Despite being under sustained pressure — with South Africa dominating possession and creating multiple chances — Egypt held firm, thanks in part to resilient defending and saves from goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy.
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos was critical of the penalty decision in his post-match comments, labelling it “ridiculous.” He said even Salah himself expressed surprise at the award. “Even Salah said to me after the game that he was surprised it was a penalty,” Broos said, arguing that South Africa had also been denied a penalty late in the contest after a lengthy VAR check.
Broos added that his side dominated much of the match, particularly in the second half, but lacked the final cutting edge needed to break down a determined Egyptian rearguard. “We created opportunities and showed quality, but football sometimes comes down to small margins,” he said.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan praised his team’s resilience under pressure, especially after going down to ten players. “We showed great character to defend our lead and secure qualification,” Hassan said, according to post-match summaries. “This is the level of performance required in a tournament like AFCON.”
The victory ensured Egypt’s place in the round of 16, reinforcing their credentials as strong contenders for a record-extending eighth AFCON crown. Salah’s goal continues his strong tournament start, following his last-gasp winner in Egypt’s opening 2–1 triumph over Zimbabwe.
South Africa, meanwhile, must regroup ahead of their final group match, where a positive result could still see them advance as one of the best runners-up. Both teams now look toward their respective concluding fixtures in Group B, with Angola and Zimbabwe still very much alive in the hunt for progression.
(With Agency Reports)
