EGYPT EDGE SOUTH AFRICA IN AFCON THRILLER

Egypt held their nerve to beat South Africa 1–0 in a fiery AFCON 2025 Group B clash in Agadir, tightening their grip on top spot and moving a step closer to the knockout rounds.

It was the kind of game that had everything AFCON does best: High tempo, raw emotion and controversy never far from the surface. The decisive moment arrived just before half-time when Mohamed Salah won a penalty following a VAR review that ruled Khuliso Mudau had caught the Egypt captain with a swinging arm inside the box.

Salah didn’t blink. He strolled up and cheekily dinked the ball straight down the middle, sending Ronwen Williams the wrong way.

The match flipped again almost immediately. Egypt right-back Mohamed Hany picked up a second yellow card deep into first-half stoppage time, leaving the Pharaohs with ten men and South Africa sensing an opening.

Bafana Bafana poured forward after the break, dominating possession and pushing Egypt deeper and deeper. Chances came and went, but the final touch deserted Hugo Broos’ side when it mattered most. Egypt, meanwhile, dug in, defended their box with discipline and slowed the game whenever they could.

Late drama followed. South Africa thought they’d earned a lifeline when VAR took another look at a possible handball in stoppage time, but once again the decision went against them, sparking frustration on the pitch and in the stands.

In the end, the numbers told a familiar story. South Africa had more of the ball and more shots, but Egypt were ruthless when it counted. The result leaves the Pharaohs unbeaten with two wins from two, while Bafana now know there’s no room for error. They must beat Zimbabwe to keep their AFCON dream alive.

Refereeing calls will dominate the debate, but Egypt won the battle that mattered: the scoreboard.

Image credit: BBC