AFCON, Morocco 2025: Record chasing Egypt face unpredictable Benin
Seven-time champions Egypt will face a potentially tricky test against Benin when the two sides clash in the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025, at the Grand Stade d’Agadir on Monday evening.
The Pharaohs arrive in the knockout stages with a clear objective: to claim a record-extending eighth continental crown. Standing in their way are Benin’s Cheetahs, who are determined to equal, or even surpass, their best-ever AFCON performance, a quarter-final appearance achieved in Egypt in 2019.
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has consistently reiterated his ambition for an “eighth star” throughout the tournament, and his side will be motivated to maintain their pursuit of history against an opponent they have beaten in three of their four previous meetings.
The North Africans advanced from the group stage unbeaten, securing victories over Zimbabwe and South Africa before playing out a goalless draw against Angola.
With qualification already assured, Hassan opted to rest his key players in the final group match, fielding a fully rotated squad.
Their stars – Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Trezeguet, Mohamed Elshenawy and Omar Marmoush – among others are fully rested, and their focus not in question. Marmoush, Salah and Trezeguet have already formed an attacking axis that has been potent for the Pharaohs.
However, Trezeguet knows only too well it will not be an easy outing against a determined Benin.
“This is a difficult match for us and we must stay focused,” Trezeguet said, a timely reminder that there are no easy opponents at this stage of the competition.
Benin, meanwhile, arrive with confidence and ambition of their own. Maybe pushed by a bit of outside poetic coincidences, they hope lady luck smiles their way. Their only previous quarter-final appearance at the AFCON came in Egypt in 2019. The campaign saw them eliminate Morocco on penalties in the Round of 16 before bowing out narrowly to Senegal.
Their current coach, Gernot Rohr, was also in Egypt and guided Nigeria to a third-place finish at the same tournament. Will those same stars shine their way in Agadir?
The Cheetahs have already made history in Morocco. Their maiden AFCON victory, a 1-0 win over Botswana in Rabat, proved decisive in securing their place in the knockout stages.
Buoyed by that breakthrough and eager to write another chapter, Benin know the challenge ahead will be formidable, but not impossible.
“We know Egypt are one of the giants of African football, but we must be courageous when we face them. We are here to compete as well,” said defender Olivier Verdon.
Under the evening lights, ambition meets belief in Agadir; Egypt chasing legacy and Benin daring to dream.
Pre-match quotes:
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan:
We respect Benin. They reached the round of 16 by merit. I have followed them since their World Cup and AFCON qualifiers and I know that they have a very good team with a good plan. We have our ambitions and we have a very good team spirit and I trust my players to do the job and make our people happy.
Benin coach Gernot Rhor:
Egypt is a high level opponent but from the group matches we have played, we have acquired some experience on how to overcome such an opponent. We know we are the underdogs in this game but that does not mean that we don’t have the ambition to play a good match and qualify.
Pre-match stat:
Overall, Egypt and Benin have met four times previously. Egypt have won three of those matches, with one draw, while Benin are yet to register a victory. Egypt have scored in all four meetings, while Benin have found the net in three of them. There has been just one clean sheet in this fixture, Egypt’s 2-0 win at the 2010 finals.
