What You Need to Know
Egypt’s national football team has qualified for the Round of 16 in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 after defeating South Africa 1-0. Mohamed Salah scored the only goal of the match from a penalty, marking his ninth goal in the tournament’s history. This victory ensures Egypt’s continued success in the competition, having reached the knockout stages for the eighth consecutive time.
Africa. Egypt’s national football team has qualified for the Round of 16 in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 after defeating South Africa 1-0 on Friday in the second round of Group B matches.
Star player Mohamed Salah scored the only goal of the match from a penalty in the 45th minute.
Salah, a Liverpool star, recorded his ninth goal in the Africa Cup of Nations, making him the third-highest scoring Egyptian in the tournament’s history, following Hassan Kachloul (12) and Hossam Hassan (11).
The Egyptian team completed the match against South Africa with a numerical disadvantage after Mohamed Hani received a red card in the 45+2 minute.
Egypt topped the group with 6 points, while South Africa is in second place with 3 points. Angola and Zimbabwe each have one point.
This marks the eighth consecutive time Egypt has reached the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations, with the last time they failed to qualify for these rounds being in 2004.
The Pharaohs achieved back-to-back victories in the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2022 in the group stage.
Conversely, South Africa has lost 6 of its 11 group stage matches since 2015, with only Guinea-Bissau (9) and Zimbabwe (7) losing more during this period.
Egypt has successfully converted all four penalties awarded to them since 2010 in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Additionally, Egypt recorded a possession rate of 36.2%, the lowest for them in a match in the Africa Cup of Nations since data collection began in 2010. In contrast, South Africa achieved its highest possession rate at 63.8%.
South Africa attempted 17 shots in the second half against Egypt, the highest number recorded in a single half of the tournament since data collection began in 2010.
In the same group, the match between Angola and Zimbabwe ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Africa Cup of Nations is the premier football tournament in Africa, showcasing the continent’s best national teams. Egypt has a rich history in the tournament, having won it multiple times and producing legendary players like Mohamed Salah. The competition has evolved since its inception in 1957, becoming a significant event in the African sports calendar.
Egypt’s football team, known as the Pharaohs, has been a dominant force in African football, with a strong record in the Africa Cup of Nations. Their consistent performance over the years has solidified their reputation, making them one of the most successful teams in the tournament’s history.
