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Not Salah, Not Marwan: The Real Man of the Match in Egypt vs Benin

5 January 2026

Not Salah, Not Marwan: The Real Man of the Match in Egypt vs Benin
Ibrahim's late header seals Egypt's progress to the quarterfinals.

Match Recap

Yasser Ibrahim, Egypt's defender, was named Man of the Match after guiding the Pharaohs to a 3-1 extra-time victory over Benin in AFCON 2025 Round of 16 in Morocco. He still earned the praise even though Marwan Attia opened the scoring in the 69th minute and supplied the assist for Ibrahim's second in the 97th, sealing the win with a late header.

Standout Performances

The goal that decided the tie came from Ibrahim's header in extra time, extending Egypt's lead and sending the fans into a frenzy. Salah later capped the Egyptian treble, finishing in the dying moments of the match.

SofaScore rated Ibrahim 9.1/10, Salah 8.6, and Attia 8.5, the top three in a strong performance. Egypt now advance to meet the winner of Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso in the next round.

Punchlines: Ibrahim's header was so precise the crossbar filed a complaint. And Salah's late goal felt like football time travel, a hat-trick wink to the fans.

Author

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Emma Amme

I am Emma Amme, an English sports journalist born in 1998. Passionate about astronomy, contemporary dance, and handcrafted woodworking, I share my sensitive view of sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was named Man of the Match?

Yasser Ibrahim of Egypt.

What was the final score and how did Egypt advance?

Egypt won 3-1 after extra time against Benin and moved into the quarterfinals.

Which players stood out besides Ibrahim?

Mohamed Salah and Marwan Attia were strong performers, with Salah scoring the late hat-trick and Attia assisting Ibrahim's second.

Who will Egypt face in the next round?

The winner of Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso.