Egypt are through — all eyes on another AFCON title, their dream is still alive!
A tenth AFCON goal for Salah
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He takes another step to cement his legacy as an all-time great both for his country and on the continent.
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Egypt reach the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations — but they were pushed all the way by Benin, who fought hard but were eventually undone in extra-time.
Benin's Jodel Dossou had cancelled out Marwan Attia's stunning opener for Egypt, who regained the lead in seventh minute of extra-time through Yasser Ibrahim's looping header.
Mohamed Salah sealed a 3-1 victory for the seven-time winners with his 10th AFCON goal in the dying seconds. Egypt will face Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso in the last eight.
Not everything that Salah tried came off today. He was marked aggressively and dispossessed several times.
However, he battled until the end, was a creative threat, drew fouls, brought others into the game and did not stop running until the very end.
His effort was rewarded with that opportunity at the end, and he buried it in typical Salah fashion.
A true captain's performance.
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Two images taken within 15 seconds of one another...
The type of shot needed to beat Dandjinou
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Both goals went into the top corner past the Benin goalkeeper — the first of which from Marwan Attia wins my vote for goal of the match.
A stunning strike that would have been worthy of winning this match.
Instead it was the first of four thrilling goals.
A word for Dandjinou
What a heroic effort by the Benin goalkeeper throughout that match.
He made a string of excellent saves to keep Benin in the game and gets my vote for man of the match.
Picture of the match: Dandjinou left helpless
This excellent image from Franck Fife for AFP via Getty Images shown Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou completely powerless to stop that stunning goal from Marwan Attia.
Heartbreak for Benin
As for Benin — they did absolutely everything asked of them and in heroic fashion.
They could not have offered any more in attack or defence. They were just outdone by classy opponents at the end.
Joy for Egypt
What an effort from Egypt to battle past Benin.
They had to plug away, be patient and resist wave after wave of counter-attacks.
I’d be surprised if they face a tougher team all tournament.
FULL TIME: Egypt 3-1 Benin
And there it is!
Egypt have battled hard and they are through. What a match.
GOAL! Salah scores to send Egypt through
123’ Egypt 3-1 Benin
Heartbreak for Benin.
Jubilation for Egypt! It’s that man, Mo Salah, with the last kick of the game on the counter attack.
Egypt are going through!
It should be three!
120’ Egypt 2-1 Benin
Ashour blazes over from a wonderful position in space at the top of the box after a cutback from Salah.
We have three minutes added on for Benin to stay in AFCON.
Salah has his shirt ripped
119’ Egypt 2-1 Benin
And Ahlinvi gets a yellow card for a spectacular shirt pull on the Egyptian.
Off comes Omar Marmoush as Mostafa Mohamed replaces him for the final minute.
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117’ Egypt 2-1 Benin
Big ups to the Benin drummer and trumpeter who have not stopped performing for 116 minutes. Unlike Egypt’s goalkeeper.
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116’ Egypt 2-1 Benin
This has been an intensely battled game, but a game that has produced very few clear-cut opportunities.
Only 35 per cent of the game’s shots have been on target. Benin have only had three shots on target, a stat that proves Egypt’s impressive defensive effort.
The clock is ticking
115’ Egypt 2-1 Benin
And Benin are running out of time.
That will not stop them from throwing everything at this, though, as they launch yet another attack on the Egypt box.
Egypt survive a while longer
112’ Egypt 2-1 Benin
Job done by the Egyptian defence there as the free kick cannons off the wall and goes behind, via a deflection, for a goal kick.
