Egypt captain Mohamed Salah has urged his teammates to stay grounded following their 3–1 extra-time victory over Benin, which secured the Pharaohs a spot in the AFCON 2025 quarter-finals.
Despite scoring his third goal of the tournament in the win, Salah dismissed claims that the record seven-time champions are the team to beat. “I don’t think we are favorites,” Salah said.
“We have young players… we are just fighting for our country.”
Head coach Hossam Hassan’s strategy of resting Salah in the final group game paid off, as Egypt outlasted a stubborn Benin side physically in extra time.
Salah noted the rising quality of African football, stating, “There is no easy game in Africa anymore.”
While the win moves Salah to 66 international goals—just three shy of Hossam Hassan’s national record of 69—the 32-year-old remains focused on the ultimate goal: winning his first continental title after two previous losses in the final.
