In two contrasting nights of African football on Monday, January 5, 2026, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) delivered both nerve-shredding drama and emphatic dominance as Egypt edged past Benin while Nigeria dismantled Mozambique, securing their spots in the quarterfinals.
Egypt vs Benin: Heart-Stopping Victory After Extra Time
At a packed Stade Adrar in Agadir, record seven-time champions Egypt were pushed to the limit by underdogs Benin in what became one of the most intense clashes of the last-16 stage. Despite being heavy favourites, the Pharaohs were taken all the way to extra time before Mohamed Salah sealed a thrilling 3–1 victory deep into added minutes of extra time.
The match’s flow told a story of resilience and tension. Egypt controlled much of the game, but it was not until the 69th minute that Marwan Attia unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box to give the champions the lead.
Benin, ranked far below their illustrious opponents, refused to bow out meekly. Their persistence paid off when Jodel Dossou capitalised on a defensive lapse to level the game in the 83rd minute – sending the encounter into extra time and silencing much of the Egyptian crowd.
The breakthrough in extra time came from defender Yasser Ibrahim, who rose tallest to head home from a well-worked set-piece, restoring Egypt’s advantage. But it was the Salah moment that will linger long in minds across the continent. With the clock deep into injury time, the Liverpool superstar sprinted clear and delivered a composed finish to make it 3–1 – his 10th AFCON goal – and book Egypt’s quarter-final berth.
Despite the win, Salah admitted Egypt are not among the favourites to lift the trophy – a candid reflection of how tightly contested this tournament has become.
Nigeria vs Mozambique: Super Eagles Soar
In stark contrast to Egypt’s marathon battle, the Super Eagles of Nigeria put on a night of attacking football at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, annihilating Mozambique 4–0 in clinical fashion.
From the opening whistle, Nigeria looked sharper, hungrier, and ruthlessly efficient. Ademola Lookman opened the scoring in the 20th minute, a precise finish that set the tone for the evening.
Barely five minutes later, Victor Osimhen doubled the advantage, pouncing on a superb delivery from Lookman. Osimhen’s touch of class was on full display, and he wasn’t done – scoring again just after half-time to deepen Mozambique’s woes.
Lookman, mercurial throughout the tournament, was at the heart of everything positive for Nigeria, ending the night with multiple assists and a performance that reminded fans why he’s considered one of the continent’s most dynamic attackers.
Forward Akor Adams added gloss to the scoreline with a powerful strike late in the second half, ensuring Nigeria’s 4–0 rout, their largest margin of victory in this knockout round so far.
Egypt now faces either defending champions Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso in the quarterfinals – a step that will test whether their resilience can be matched with consistency.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s blistering display sends a warning to the rest of the competition:
should their attack continue to fire on all cylinders, the Super Eagles could be a formidable force in this tournament.
As the Africa Cup of Nations enters its business end, it’s clear that this edition is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable – brimming with passion, surprise upsets, and the electric talent that defines African football.
