Egypt defeat South Africa by 1-0 in AFCON 2025 on Friday, 26 December, in a match that will be remembered for its tactical intensity and high-stakes officiating. In a gritty Group B encounter held at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir, the Egypt national football team became the first side to book a place in the knockout stage of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations. Despite being reduced to ten men for the entire second half, the Pharaohs displayed immense resilience to subdue a determined Bafana Bafana side. A first-half Mohamed Salah penalty proved to be the difference, but the result was far from certain until the final whistle blew amidst a storm of VAR controversy.
First Half: Salah Breaks the Deadlock
The opening of the match was a tactical chess match, with both sides cautious of the other’s counter-attacking threat. The South Africa national football team looked to exploit space behind the Egyptian full-backs, but the Pharaohs remained compact. The breakthrough arrived in the 45th minute when the referee pointed to the spot.
Mohamed Salah won the penalty himself after being caught in the face by a stray arm from Khuliso Mudau during a heated tussle in the penalty area. Stepping up under immense pressure, the Liverpool star calmly chipped his effort beyond Ronwen Williams to give his side the lead. However, the joy was short-lived as the half ended on a sour note; right-back Mohamed Hany was shown a second yellow card for a dangerous stamp on Teboho Mokoena. This meant the news that Egypt defeat South Africa by 1-0 in AFCON 2025 would have to be secured with a numerical disadvantage for the rest of the game.
Second Half: Bafana Bafana Pressure and VAR Drama
With a man advantage, South Africa dominated the second period, enjoying 61% of the possession. The South Africa national football team unleashed a staggering 16 shots, with 7 on target, but they found an immovable object in Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy. The veteran shot-stopper produced several world-class saves to maintain the slender lead.
The match reached a boiling point in the 88th minute due to a major VAR controversy. Bafana Bafana appealed frantically for a penalty when Egypt’s Yasser Ibrahim appeared to block a goal-bound shot with his hand. After a lengthy review and a trip to the pitchside monitor, the referee contentiously waved play on. This decision left coach Hugo Broos and the South African bench in disbelief, feeling that the chance for an equalizer had been unfairly denied. Ultimately, the ten-man Pharaohs held firm, ensuring that Egypt defeat South Africa by 1-0 in AFCON 2025.
AFCON 2025 Group B Standings
With this victory, Egypt has officially secured their spot in the Round of 16, leaving the rest of the group to fight for the remaining positions.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | Status |
| 1 | Egypt | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 6 | Qualified |
| 2 | South Africa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | In Contention |
| 3 | Angola | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 | In Contention |
| 4 | Zimbabwe | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 | In Contention |
Match Statistics: Agadir Showdown
The stats reflect a game of two halves, with South Africa’s dominance in the second period failing to yield a goal.
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Score: Egypt 1 – 0 South Africa
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Possession: Egypt 39% | South Africa 61%
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Shots (On Target): Egypt 6 (2) | South Africa 16 (7)
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Pass Accuracy: Egypt 72% | South Africa 84%
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Red Cards: 1 (Egypt – Mohamed Hany)
Post-Match Reactions: Relief and Regret
The Egypt defeat South Africa by 1-0 in AFCON 2025 result drew strong emotions from both camps.
Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt Goalkeeper): > “The most important thing today is the victory. We approach every match like a final. We gave our all right until the end. Thanks to the Moroccan fans for their incredible support.”
Hugo Broos (South Africa Coach):
“In the second half, we clearly dominated. We had the chances we needed, but we lacked efficiency. In the end, there were especially two decisions against us that decided the match. We will win the final match against Zimbabwe.”
Hossam Hassan (Egypt Head Coach):
“This match felt like a final. I congratulate my players, who showed great character after the red card. The objective was to defend well and win, and we executed our plan perfectly.”
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Conclusion: Egypt Marches On
As Egypt defeat South Africa by 1-0 in AFCON 2025, they reinforce their status as one of the tournament favorites. While Bafana Bafana will rue missed opportunities and the controversial VAR calls, they remain in a strong position to progress if they can secure a win against Zimbabwe in their final match. For Egypt, the focus now shifts to their final game against Angola on December 29, as they look to maintain their perfect record in AFCON 2025 Group B.
Mainstream Media References
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BBC Sport
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Title: Salah penalty enough as 10-man Egypt beat South Africa
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Link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/africa/afcon-2025-egypt-v-south-africa
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CAF Online
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Title: Egypt first team to qualify for AFCON 2025 knockouts
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Link: https://www.cafonline.com/totalenergies-afcon-2025/news/egypt-qualification-south-africa
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