The "King of Egypt" has done it again. On Friday, December 26, 2025, Mohamed Salah fired Egypt into the knockout stages of AFCON 2025 with a gritty 1–0 victory over South Africa. Despite playing more than half the match with 10 men, the seven-time champions delivered a defensive masterclass at the Stade Adrar to secure their second win of the tournament.With this result, Egypt becomes the first team to officially book their place in the Round of 16.
The Match Breakdown
45’ | THE BREAKTHROUGH: After a cagey first half, the game exploded into life just before the interval. South Africa's Khuliso Mudau was judged by VAR to have caught Salah with a stray arm in the box. The Egyptian captain stepped up and coolly dinked his penalty down the middle, sending Ronwen Williams the wrong way.
45+2’ | THE RED CARD: Disappointment turned to drama just two minutes later. Egypt's right-back Mohamed Hany, already on a yellow, was shown a second booking for a reckless stamp on Teboho Mokoena. The dismissal sparked a heated confrontation between both benches, requiring the referee to intervene before the halftime whistle.
Second Half Siege: Armed with a numerical advantage, Bafana Bafana dominated the second period, racking up 18 shots to Egypt's 5. However, veteran goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy turned back the clock, pulling off three world-class saves to deny Lyle Foster and Aubrey Modiba.
The "VAR" Controversy
South Africa will feel aggrieved after a late drama-filled stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, Bafana Bafana appealed passionately for a penalty for a perceived handball by Yasser Ibrahim on the goal line. Following a lengthy VAR review that silenced the stadium, the referee stood by his original decision, sparking furious protests from South Africa manager Hugo Broos.
Salah's Historic Run
Mohamed Salah’s penalty marks his second goal of this edition, following his stoppage-time winner against Zimbabwe. He is now the first Egyptian in history to score in five different AFCON editions (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025), further cementing his status as an African legend.
The Verdict: It wasn't pretty, but the "Pharaohs' Grit" was on full display. Egypt proved they can win while suffering, a trait that makes them terrifying favorites for the title.