Egypt’s clear stance on 2026 AFCON aspirations

The Egyptian national team are fully focused on claiming their eighth Africa Cup of Nations title as they prepare to take on Benin in the Round of 16 at Stade Adrar in Agadir on Monday evening.

Kick-off is at 6:00pm (CAT, GMT+2).

CURRENT FORM

Egypt qualified for the Round of 16 by topping Group B, one point ahead of second-placed South Africa.

The Pharaohs were unbeaten during the initial phase of the tournament, as they recorded wins over Zimbabwe and South Africa before jotting down a goalless draw against Angola in matchday three.

Benin made their way out of Group D as one of the best third-placed sides at the showpiece.

Placed alongside Senegal, DR Congo and Botswana, Benin’s only win at the AFCON came in the form of a 1-0 result against Botswana in matchday two.

Despite losses to DR Congo and Senegal, Benin’s win over Botswana proved to be crucial as they now look ahead to a mammoth task against the North African giants.

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WHAT WAS SAID

In what was a theme among Egyptian players and coaches leading up to the showpiece, Imam Ashour recently reiterated that the seven-time African champions intend on going all the way in Morocco.

"The most important thing right now is the Round of 16 match against Benin,” Ashour said.

“We are focusing heavily on this game. All the teams participating in the tournament are performing at a high level, and there are no longer any weak teams in the African continent, given the continuous development of all the teams.

He continued: "We are aware of the strong competition in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, but we are ready to face any team in the upcoming period. Our goal is to win the championship and secure the eighth title for the Pharaohs in the Africa Cup of Nations."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Egypt: Mohamed Salah – With two goals to his name at the showpiece, Salah now has the platform to showcase his big game temperament during the knockout phase in Morocco. Amid a tough spell, Salah remains one of the deadliest attackers in the world, while the Pharaohs will no doubt rely on his leadership once more.

Benin: Yohan Roche – While goals have been hard to come by for Benin, Roche has scored the only goal for his nation at the tournament so far. Apart from his attacking prowess, Roche will also be tasked to keep Egypt’s hard running attack at bay.

HEAD-TO-HEAD