AGADIR, Morocco: Yasser Ibrahim’s towering header and a late breakaway goal from Mohamed Salah sealed a 3-1 extra-time victory for Egypt over Benin in a hard-fought Africa Cup of Nations round-of-16 clash on Monday.
Seven-times champions Egypt appeared to be cruising after Marwan Attia opened the scoring in the 69th minute with a stunning 30-yard strike. However, Benin refused to fold and forced extra time when Jodel Dossou struck a dramatic late equaliser.
Defender Ibrahim then put Egypt back in front in the 97th minute, scoring his first international goal as he met Attia’s cross with a looping header that dropped into the top corner. With Benin pushing forward, Salah raced clear in the dying seconds to add the third and seal the contest.
Egypt will now face the winners of Tuesday’s quarter-final between defending champions Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, with the match scheduled to be played in Agadir on Saturday.
