Egypt became the first team to qualify for the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a 1-0 win over South Africa in a Group A match on Friday. The Pharaohs had earlier opened their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe, putting them in a strong position to advance.
In the match against South Africa, Egypt’s only goal came in the first half when Mohamed Salah converted a penalty. Egypt finished the half with 10 men after Mohamed Hany was shown a red card, but they maintained their lead to secure all three points.
Egypt will now face Angola in their final group fixture, while South Africa play Zimbabwe. The result confirms Egypt’s place in the knockout rounds, reinforcing their status as strong contenders in AFCON 2025.