Africa Cup of Nations contenders Egypt will look to avoid an early shock when they face Benin in the round of 16 on Monday afternoon, writers Dave James.
The Pharaohs head into the knockout phase unbeaten after a controlled group stage campaign. Victories over Zimbabwe and South Africa ensured qualification was wrapped up early, before a goalless draw with Angola completed their Group B schedule.
That final group match allowed Egypt to rest key players, leaving them fit and fresh for Monday’s contest at the Adrar Stadium. With squad rotation managed effectively, Egypt are widely expected to step up a level as the tournament moves into the knockout rounds.
Rested for Egypt’s final group match against Angola, Mohamed Salah is set to return on Monday with the aim of extending his goalscoring run at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Liverpool forward may have found consistency harder to come by at club level this season, but his impact in an Egypt shirt has once again been decisive. Salah has made a strong start to the tournament, scoring in each of the Pharaohs’ opening two matches.
Both of those goals came from the penalty spot, with strikes against Zimbabwe and South Africa helping Egypt secure early qualification for the knockout stages. His composure in key moments has underlined his importance to the side.
How to watch Egypt v Benin
Group B winners Egypt take on Benin at Adrar Stadium on Monday, with kick off scheduled for 16:00 GMT. The match will be shown live on 4seven, with a place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter finals at stake.
While knockout football can often produce surprises, the balance of form and quality points strongly towards Egypt. With greater depth, physical presence and defensive solidity, the Pharaohs are expected to have too much for a Benin side that has already exceeded expectations simply by reaching this stage of the competition.
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Benin, meanwhile, have done enough to extend their stay in Morocco but arrive as clear underdogs. Their progression was secured thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over Botswana, following an opening defeat to DR Congo. A heavy 3-0 loss to Senegal in their final group game underlined the gap between Benin and the tournament’s elite sides.
That defeat against Senegal exposed Benin’s limitations, particularly at both ends of the pitch. They have managed just one goal across three matches at this AFCON and now face an Egyptian defence that has already recorded two clean sheets.
