Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan praised his side’s resilience after the Pharaohs were pushed to their limits by a stubborn Benin team before securing a dramatic 3–1 extra-time victory in the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Monday.
Played at the Grand Stade d’Agadir in Morocco, the knockout encounter was finely balanced for long stretches, with both teams struggling to break each other down in a tense first half that ended goalless.
Egypt eventually broke the deadlock through Marwan Attia, who finished off a move sparked by talisman Mohamed Salah. Just as the Pharaohs looked set to seal progression in normal time, Benin struck back seven minutes from the end when Jodel Dossou capitalised on a defensive lapse to equalise and force extra time.
With Benin pushing forward in search of a winner, Egypt struck decisively on the counter-attack. Salah, the Liverpool forward, needed just one touch before firing a powerful left-footed shot into the net to restore Egypt’s lead. The Pharaohs later added a third goal to seal qualification for the quarter-finals.
Speaking after the match, Hassan Egypt’s all-time leading goalscorer with 69 goals in 177 appearances acknowledged the challenge posed by their opponents.
“It was a very difficult match,” Hassan said. “Before the game, I said there are no easy teams, and Benin were a tough opponent. We analyse every team carefully to adapt our game. Egypt is a great football team and I want to make my people happy.”
He also paid tribute to his backroom staff, particularly ahead of the next demanding fixture. “I trust my team and my staff, especially the medical staff, to ensure good recovery before the next match,” he added.
Hassan confirmed concerns over left-back Mohamed Hamdy, who was forced off injured. “We are sad about Hamdy’s injury, which seems serious. His teammates played for him, and we were mentally prepared for either 90 minutes or extra time.”
Defender Yasser Ibrahim, who was named Man of the Match, echoed his coach’s sentiments, praising Egypt’s response after conceding late on.
“It was not an easy match. Benin were a good team,” Ibrahim said. “We dropped a bit in the last ten minutes and they took advantage, but the team reacted well and regained control. Now our focus is on the next match.”
Despite the defeat, Benin head coach Gernot Rohr expressed pride in his team’s performance, admitting that Egypt’s experience ultimately proved decisive.
“It was a real battle, a tough contest while still playing good football,” said the former Nigeria coach. “They have individual players at a higher level, and we also missed our best striker, Steve Mounié, who would have helped us a lot, especially in aerial play.”
“Still, I am proud of my players their attitude, solidarity and fighting spirit were very positive for the future.”
The pharaohs will now face the winner of the Round of 16 clash between defending African champions Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso as they continue their quest for continental glory.
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