Egypt vs Benin — Match Preview
The knockout stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations heat up in Agadir as record seven-time champions Egypt face underdogs Benin on Monday, 5 January 2026. The Pharaohs cruised through Group B unbeaten, securing 7 points with a disciplined defense and the star power of Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush. Benin, conversely, scrapped their way into the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams, courtesy of a solitary 1–0 win over Botswana. While the Cheetahs will look to replicate their 2019 heroics where they shocked Morocco, they face a monumental task against an Egyptian side that looks primed for a deep tournament run.
Egypt vs Benin — Match Info
- Competition: Africa Cup of Nations 2025 (Round of 16)
- Venue: Stade Adrar, Agadir (Capacity: 45,480)
- Date: Monday, 5 January 2026
- Kickoff: 17:00 Local | 16:00 GMT | 11:00 ET
- Referee: TBC (CAF Appointment)
Egypt vs Benin — Match Stakes
Egypt:
- Win → Advances to the Quarter-finals to face the winner of Nigeria/Mozambique.
- Loss → A shocking early exit for the tournament favorites; likely leads to managerial upheaval.
Benin:
- Win → A historic upset; equals their best-ever AFCON finish (Quarter-finals in 2019).
- Loss → elimination, but a respectable campaign given they navigated a tough group.
Egypt vs Benin — Team News
Egypt:
- Lasheen M. — Questionable (Injury – Midfield rotation risk)
- Salah M. — Available (Captain & Talisman)
- Marmoush O. — Available (Manchester City forward in fine form)
- El Shenawy M. — Available (Starting GK, kept 2 clean sheets in groups)
- Full Strength: Manager Rui Vitória has his key attacking trio of Salah, Marmoush, and Trezeguet fully fit.
Benin:
- D’Almeida S. — Out (Injury – Key Midfielder Missing)
- Moumini A. — Out (Suspended – Yellow Cards accumulation)
- Mounie S. — Available (Captain & Aerial threat)
- Defensive Reshuffle: The suspension of Moumini forces a change in the backline, likely putting extra pressure on Olivier Verdon.
Egypt vs Benin — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)
Egypt
- 29/12 — 0–0 vs Angola (AFCON)
- 26/12 — 1–0 vs South Africa (AFCON)
- 23/12 — 2–1 vs Zimbabwe (AFCON)
- 16/12 — 2–1 vs Nigeria (Friendly)
- 09/12 — 0–3 vs Jordan (Arab Cup)
Benin
- 31/12 — 0–3 vs Senegal (AFCON)
- 27/12 — 1–0 vs Botswana (AFCON)
- 23/12 — 0–1 vs D.R. Congo (AFCON)
- 18/11 — 0–3 vs Burkina Faso (Friendly)
- 14/10 — 0–4 vs Nigeria (WC Qualifier)
Egypt vs Benin — Head-to-Head (Last Meetings)
- 20/01/2010 — Egypt 2–0 Benin (AFCON)
- 19/11/2008 — Egypt 5–1 Benin (Friendly)
- 04/09/2005 — Egypt 4–1 Benin (WC Qualifier)
- 04/07/2004 — Benin 3–3 Egypt (WC Qualifier)
Egypt vs Benin — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)
Egypt (4-3-3)
El Shenawy; Hany, Ibrahim, Rabia, Hamdi; Attia, Fathy, Zizo; Salah, Marmoush, Trezeguet
Benin (4-3-3)
Dandjinou; Ouorou, Verdon, Tijani, Roche; Imourane, Samadou, Dodo; Tosin, Mounie, Olaitan
Egypt vs Benin — Impact Bench
Egypt: Mostafa Mohamed (Physical striker), Ashour (Creative spark)
Benin: Dossou (Pace on wing), Hountondji (Defensive cover)
Egypt vs Benin — Tactical Analysis
Egypt
The Pharaohs rarely play expansive football in knockouts, preferring control and precision. With Marwan Attia and Hamdy Fathy anchoring the midfield, they will look to feed Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush in transition. Marmoush, now plying his trade at Manchester City, offers a direct threat cutting in from the left or playing centrally, allowing Salah to roam. Egypt’s defense has been solid, conceding just one goal in the group stage.
Benin
Gernot Rohr’s side will set up in a low block, aiming to frustrate Egypt and force mistakes. Without Sessi D’Almeida’s energy in midfield, they may struggle to break up Egypt’s possession. Their primary route to goal will be long balls to Steve Mounié, hoping for knockdowns to Olaitan or Tosin. However, after leaking 3 goals to Senegal, confidence in their defensive structure is shaky.
Egypt vs Benin — Key Battles
- Mounie vs Rabia/Ibrahim — The aerial battle; Benin’s only real outlet.
- Salah vs Roche — Benin’s left-back faces the ultimate test against the “Egyptian King”.
- Fathy vs Dodo — Midfield control battle.
- Marmoush vs Ouorou — Man City’s new signing will look to exploit the space behind Benin’s right-back.
Egypt vs Benin — Spotlight Players
Egypt — Omar Marmoush
The forward has reached a new level since his high-profile move to Manchester City. His pace and finishing ability make him the perfect partner for Salah, taking the defensive attention away from the Liverpool star.
Benin — Steve Mounié
The veteran striker is the heart and soul of this Benin team. If they are to pull off a miracle, Mounié will need to win every aerial duel and convert the one or two half-chances he might get.
Egypt vs Benin — Prediction
Egypt 2–0 Benin
The gulf in quality is too wide to ignore. Benin have struggled defensively against top-tier opposition (conceding 4 vs Nigeria, 3 vs Senegal recently). Egypt are experts at navigating AFCON knockout games. Expect a controlled performance from the Pharaohs with Salah and Marmoush providing the decisive moments.
Egypt vs Benin — Betting Insights
- Egypt to Win — Very High Probability.
- Egypt Clean Sheet — Likely (Benin failed to score in 3 of last 5 games).
- Omar Marmoush to Score — High Value.
Egypt vs Benin — Where to Watch
- Egypt: beIN Sports MAX
- International: CAF TV (YouTube), Sky Sports Football (UK), beIN Sports (USA/France)
Egypt vs Benin — FAQs
Q: When is the Egypt vs Benin match?
A: The match kicks off on Monday, 5 January 2026, at 17:00 Local time.
Q: Is Mohamed Salah playing?
A: Yes, he is fit and expected to start.
Q: Who is the favorite?
A: Egypt are heavy favorites due to their unbeaten run and superior H2H record.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
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