Egypt coach Hossam Hassan acknowledged that Benin provided a stern test during their AFCON Round of 16 encounter in Morocco. The Pharaohs ultimately secured a thrilling and challenging 3-1 victory in tense extra time. Marwan Attia broke the deadlock following a scoreless first half, but Benin’s Jodel Dossou equalized late, capitalizing on a defensive error.
In extra time, Mohamed Salah’s brilliance restored Egypt's lead, sealing the win. Post-match, Hassan described the match as very difficult, praising Benin’s resilience while expressing concern over Mohamed Hamdy's serious injury. Defender and Man of the Match Yasser Ibrahim echoed these sentiments, commending the team's ability to regain control. Meanwhile, Benin boss Gernot Rohr cited the absence of star striker Steve Mounié and Egypt's experienced individual quality as decisive factors, though he remained proud of his players' solidarity. Egypt advanced to the quarter-finals.