Egypt secured a 1-0 win over South Africa in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations clash in Group B at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir, Morocco on Friday afternoon.
It proved a cagey affair between the two favourites in the group, who both opened their campaigns with victories with identical 2-1 scorelines and the earlier 1-1 draw with Angola and Zimbabwe – increased the incentive for three points.
Victory for either side meant qualification for the knockout stages of the competition but it was Egypt who took the lead in controversial circumstances when Khuliso Mudau was adjudged to have fouled Mohamed Salah inside the area.
The Mamelodi Sundowns defender had a flailing arm inside the area that struck the Liverpool superstar in the face and upon Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) review, a penalty was awarded before being slotted home past Ronwen Williams.
However, the North Africans were dealt a blow despite scoring on the 45th minute mark as Mohamed Hany received his marching orders for a cynical foul, leading to his second yellow.
Bafana boss Hugo Broos responded with Sipho Mbule, who together with Mohau Nkota were dropped to the bench for the game – coming on for Thalente Mbatha – one of two changes in the XI where Tshepang Moremi started over the Al-Ettifaq winger.
South Africa showed the desire to get back into the game, but the Pharaohs were firm in their defensive, aggressive in their pressing and accurate in the way they strung their counters against the high-line defence of Bafana.
It went on the injury time before South Africa saw what appeared to be legitimate penalty appeal cleared and eventually secure three points to become the first team to qualify for the knockout stages.