The Egyptian national team is set to face Benin this evening, Monday, January 5, 2026, in a high-stakes Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16 clash. The match will take place at the Grande Stade d’Agadir in Morocco. A coveted spot in the quarterfinals is on the line.
Egypt enters the knockout stage as the favorite after finishing at the top of Group B. Meanwhile, Benin is making only its second appearance at this stage of the competition. This follows their historic run in 2019.
High Stakes for the Seven-Time Champions
Despite their status as record-holders, the Pharaohs are taking nothing for granted. Head coach Hossam Hassan is determined to avoid the early exits that haunted Egypt in 2019 and at the previous tournament in Ivory Coast.
Left winger Mahmoud Trezeguet emphasized the team’s focus during a pre-match press conference. He noted that the squad must be clinical in front of the goal to progress.
“We know that in the next rounds we won’t have the luxury of squandering goals,” Trezeguet stated. “We must try and take every chance we get.”
Trezeguet also highlighted the team’s offensive creativity as a positive sign. He is expected to return to the starting lineup alongside superstars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush to lead the Egyptian attack.
Benin’s Ambition and Confidence
On the other side, Benin enters the match with a sense of pride and growing ambition. After securing their first-ever AFCON finals win against Botswana in the group stage, the Cheetahs are ready to test themselves against the continent’s elite.
Defender Olivier Verdon expressed the team’s readiness to cause an upset:
- First Objective: Get out of the group stage (Completed).
- Current Goal: Defeat Egypt and advance to the quarterfinals.
“Now we’re ambitious; we want to win this match and move on to the next round,” Verdon told reporters.
Match Details and Kick-off Time
The winner of this encounter will move one step closer to the final in Morocco. Fans can expect a tactical battle between Egypt’s star-studded offense and a resilient Benin defense.
- Venue: Grande Stade d’Agadir (Adrar Stadium), Agadir, Morocco.
- Date: Monday, January 5, 2026.
- Time: 5:00 PM local time (6:00 PM in Cairo / 4:00 PM GMT).
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