Salah scores a major goal, Egypt secures a place in the AFCON Round of 16.

Egypt overcame South Africa in a crucial match in their 2025 CAN Cup group stage campaign, where Salah's composure, decisive moments, and resilience made all the difference.

The clash between Egypt and South Africa in the second group stage match of the 2025 CAN Cup was considered a "six-point match," as the winning team would almost certainly gain a significant advantage in the race for first place in the group and avoid a strong opponent in the knockout round. Therefore, both teams approached the game cautiously, prioritizing solidity.

In the opening minutes, South Africa controlled possession more but lacked attacking ideas. Conversely, Egypt gradually regained control of the game thanks to the playmaking abilities of Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.