Mohamed Salah AFCON 2026 goal seals Egypt's 3-1 victory against Benin

Egypt escaped a major scare to secure their spot in the quarterfinals. Mohamed Salah scored with the very last kick of extra time, ensuring a 3-1 win over Benin at the Stade d’Agadir on January 5, 2026. The Pharaohs were pushed to their limits after a resilient Benin side forced the game into extra time.

Detailed Breakdown of the Mohamed Salah AFCON 2026 goal

Despite dominating possession, Egypt didn't find the net until the 69th minute when Marwan Attia curled a beautiful strike into the top corner. However, Benin’s Jodel Dossou stunned the favorites by equalizing in the 83rd minute, pouncing on a rebound that sent the match into an additional 30 minutes.

In extra time, Yasser Ibrahim restored Egypt's lead with a looping header just 7 minutes in. As Benin pushed forward for another equalizer, Salah capitalized on a counterattack to score his 3rd goal of the tournament, clinically finishing a through ball from Zizo.

Injury Concerns and the Road to the 8th Title

The victory was marred by a serious-looking knee injury to left-back Mohamed Hamdy, who was stretchered off before halftime. Egypt is now set to stay in Agadir for their quarterfinal clash this Saturday against either Burkina Faso or Ivory Coast. They are currently chasing a record-extending 8th AFCON title.