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Egypt v Benin – Line-ups, stats and preview
Match Preview for Egypt v Benin
Aiming to avoid another round-of-16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations, Group B winners Egypt face Benin at the Adrar Stadium on Monday with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Hossam Hassan’s side arrive as strong favourites after recording consecutive clean sheets in the group stage, while Benin are appearing in the knockout phase for just the second time in their AFCON history.
The Pharaohs edged past Bafana Bafana 1-0 despite being reduced to 10 men and then played out a goalless draw with the Palancas Negras in their final group match.
However, the underlying numbers suggest a more nuanced picture. Egypt conceded 18 shots against South Africa and allowed Angola 16 attempts in their final group fixture, figures that point to sustained pressure in both contests.
Context is key, though. Against South Africa, Egypt spent the entire second half a man down, with Hugo Broos’s side registering 17 of their 18 shots after the break. Meanwhile, the goalless draw with Angola saw Hassan rotate his squad heavily, prioritising freshness ahead of the knockout rounds.
Even with those caveats, Monday’s encounter represents a genuine test for the seven-time champions, who are seeking to avoid another early elimination following their last-16 exits at AFCON 2019 on home soil and at the previous tournament in Ivory Coast.
Benin approach the contest with little pressure, having already exceeded expectations by progressing as one of the four best third-placed teams. Gernot Rohr’s side advanced from a difficult group containing Senegal and DR Congo, with qualification secured thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over Botswana.
That victory, sealed by Yohan Roche’s 28th-minute goal, marked Benin’s first-ever 90-minute win at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, a landmark moment in the nation’s footballing history.
Team news for Egypt v Benin
Egypt are expected to recall several key attacking players after rotating in the final group match. Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush and Trezeguet should all return to the starting XI to spearhead the Pharaohs’ frontline.
Salah has already scored twice at the tournament, while Marmoush has added the other goal, underlining their importance to Egypt’s attacking threat. Trezeguet, who played a major role in qualifying with four goals and one assist, is still searching for his first direct goal contribution at the finals.
Mohamed Hany is also set to return after serving a one-match suspension following his red card against South Africa. However, Mohanad Lasheen remains a doubt after being forced off with an apparent injury in the draw with Angola.
Benin could be without Sessi D’Almeida due to injury, while Abdoul Rachid Moumini is suspended after accumulating yellow cards. Steve Mounie, Junior Olaitan and Aiyegun Tosin are expected to carry the attacking responsibility.
Olaitan and Mounie were involved in five goals during qualification, with Olaitan providing two assists, making him a key creative outlet for the West African side.
Expected line-ups for Egypt v Benin
Egypt: El Shenawy; Hany, Ibrahim, Rabia, Hamdi; Attia, Fathy, Zizo; Salah, Marmoush, Trezeguet
Benin: Dandjinou; Ouorou, Verdon, Tijani, Roche; Imourane, Attidjikou; Tosin, Dodo, Olaitan; Mounie
How to watch Nigeria v Mozambique: TV channel, live online stream
Kick-off on Monday is at 16:00 UK time. In the UK, live AFCON 2025 coverage is on Channel 4’s 4seven, All 4 and YouTube channel. In the USA, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.
Online live streaming is available on a vast range of devices through Channel 4’s website and app and the beIN Sports app.
The stats for Egypt v Benin
• Egypt have kept clean sheets in both of their last two AFCON matches
• The Pharaohs conceded 34 shots combined across their final two group games
• Egypt have scored three goals at AFCON 2025, with Salah netting two of them
• Benin qualified as one of the four best third-placed teams
• The win over Botswana was Benin’s first-ever 90-minute victory at AFCON finals
• Benin failed to score in two of their three group-stage matches
Prediction
Benin deserve credit for reaching the knockout stages and for securing a historic group-stage win, but the step up in quality on Monday is significant.
With Salah and Marmoush leading the attack and a clear objective to avoid another early exit, Egypt should have too much quality and experience for the Cheetahs over 90 minutes.
