Mohamed Salah's converted penalty gave Egypt a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Africa's Bafana Bafana in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B match in Agadir, Morocco, ending South Africa's 27-match unbeaten run. Despite defender Mohamed Hany's red card early in the second half, Egypt held firm to clinch a last-16 spot, leaving Bafana Bafana needing a result against Zimbabwe.
Egypt defeated South Africa 1-0 on December 26, 2025, in Agadir as part of Group B at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, securing their advancement to the round of 16 regardless of their final group game against Angola.
The decisive moment came in first-half stoppage time (45th minute) when referee Pacifique Ndabihawenimana awarded a penalty following a VAR review of Khuliso Mudau striking Salah in the face with his arm. Salah calmly slotted it home for his second goal of the tournament after his 91st-minute winner in Egypt's 2-1 comeback against Zimbabwe.
Egypt's joy was tempered early in the second half when defender Mohamed Hany received a second yellow card—for an ill-timed challenge on Teboho Mokoena after an earlier caution on Tshepang Moremi—leaving the Pharaohs with 10 men. South Africa pressed with their numerical edge but failed to break through, surviving a late VAR check for handball against Yasser Ibrahim.
Lineups:
Egypt: Mohamed El Shenawy; Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Rami Rabia; Marwan Attia, Zizo; Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, Trezeguet.
South Africa: Ronwen Williams; Khuliso Mudau, Siyabonga Ngezana; Teboho Mokoena, Sphephelo Sithole; Oswin Appollis, Lyle Foster, Tshepang Moremi.
The result extended Egypt's unbeaten run in AFCON open-play group games to 12 matches while snapping Bafana Bafana's 27-game streak under coach Hugo Broos, who entered off a 2-1 opener win over Angola. Broos raised concerns over tournament rules post-match, shifting focus to their must-win against Zimbabwe on Monday in Marrakesh—a win guarantees progress, a draw may suffice.
This clash revived a historic rivalry; the nations co-founded AFCON in the 1950s. South Africa missed the 1957 edition due to apartheid but won in 1996 despite losing 1-0 to Egypt initially. In 2019, Bafana stunned hosts Egypt 1-0 in the last 16 via Thembinkosi Lorch. Pre-match, ex-midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane backed the side: “I truly feel we are in a good place... 100% confidence in the group."