MENA Newswire, RABAT: Egypt and Nigeria secured places in the quarter-finals of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday after winning their respective Round of 16 matches, with Egypt defeating Benin 3-1 after extra time and Nigeria recording a 4-0 victory over Mozambique. The results confirmed progression for two of the tournament’s most successful teams as the knockout phase continued across Morocco.
Egypt’s match against Benin was decided by goals in extra time following a tightly contested encounter in Rabat. Benin produced a disciplined first-half performance, remaining compact defensively while creating pressure through quick transitions. Egypt dominated possession but found limited space in the final third and were unable to score before the break. Benin’s goalkeeper Saturnin Dandjinou made several saves during the opening period as Egypt struggled to convert territorial control into clear chances.
The match shifted after halftime as Egypt increased their tempo. In the 69th minute, Marwan Attia opened the scoring with a long-range strike from outside the penalty area following a move developed on the right side involving Mohamed Salah. Benin responded with urgency and levelled the match in the 83rd minute when Jodel Dossou capitalised on a defensive error to score, forcing the game into extra time after the regulation period ended 1-1.
During extra time, Egypt regained the lead in the 97th minute when Yasser Ibrahim headed home a cross delivered from the right flank. Benin committed additional players forward in search of another equaliser but left gaps at the back. In the final moments, Salah completed a counter-attack to score Egypt’s third goal, confirming qualification for the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win.
Round of 16 delivers decisive results
The victory extended Egypt’s record of reaching the latter stages of the tournament. Egypt will next face the winner of the Round of 16 match between Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Benin exited the competition after pushing Egypt beyond 90 minutes, concluding their campaign following advancement from the group stage.
In a separate Round of 16 fixture played earlier in the day, Nigeria delivered a dominant performance to defeat Mozambique 4-0 at the Complexe Sportif de Fès. Nigeria took control from the opening minutes, pressing high and circulating the ball efficiently through midfield. The Super Eagles opened the scoring in the first half and added further goals before the interval, establishing a commanding lead.
Nigeria continued to control proceedings after halftime, maintaining defensive organisation while extending their advantage with additional goals. Mozambique, making their first appearance in the knockout phase of the Africa Cup of Nations, struggled to contain Nigeria’s pace and movement. Nigeria limited Mozambique’s opportunities throughout the match and did not concede a goal.
Nigeria maintain clean sheet in knockout round
The win ensured Nigeria’s place in the quarter-finals, where they will face one of the remaining teams as the tournament progresses toward its concluding stages. The result marked Nigeria’s most decisive performance of the knockout round so far, reflecting consistent execution across all areas of the pitch.
With Egypt and Nigeria advancing, the quarter-final lineup continued to take shape, featuring a mix of former champions and emerging contenders. The CAF Africa Cup of Nations has entered its decisive phase, with remaining matches expected to determine the semifinalists later this week as the tournament moves closer to its conclusion.