Marmoush helps Egypt edge into AFCON quarter-finals | OneFootball

Omar Marmoush’s Egypt saw off a stubborn Benin 3-1 in extra time to reach the last eight of the Africa Cup of Nations.

A battle between AFCON’s most successful side and a nation taking part in just their second knockout fixture, the heavily favoured Egyptians eventually got past their opponents thanks to goals from Ibrahim Yasser and Mohamed Salah after the game had ended 1-1 in normal time.

Marmoush had gone closest to the opening goal in an otherwise uneventful first half when he was denied by Benin stopper Marcel Dandjinou in a one-on-one situation.

But the seven-time champions continued to be frustrated by their opponents, with Ramy Rabia forcing a fine save from Dandjinou before the ball was scrambled off the line as the hour mark approached.

The breakthrough finally came with 20 to play, when Marwan Attia met a cutback to the edge of the area and found the top corner with a sumptuous first-time effort.

Benin were far from out of the contest though, with Jodel Dossou going close minutes before that Egypt opener.

But the substitute would gobble up his next opportunity to stun Marmoush and co. late on, forcing extra time when he pounced on a loose ball that had been clawed off the line by Mohamed El Shenawy following a deflected cross.

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Undeterred by that unlikely setback, Egypt pressed for the winner in extra time, with Marmoush seeing a vicious effort deflected over for a corner early on.

And the second would follow from the set piece, as Yasser looped a header into the far corner after a well-worked short corner routine.

Benin committed bodies forward in search of an equaliser, but were exposed on the counter attack, allowing Salah to fire home and put the game to bed with virtually the last kick of the game.

Egypt will face either the Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals, with that tie set to take place on Saturday 10 January at 19:00 (UK).

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