Salah the saviour again for Egypt
Result: Egypt 1-0 South Africa (Salah 45′ pen)
Mohamed Salah scored the only goal of the game as Egypt edged South Africa 1-0 at a vociferous Stade Adrar in their second group game of this year’s AFCON.
A repeat of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations knockout game saw Egypt start the brighter of the two sides when Omar Marmoush’s swerving free kick narrowly missed the target after 21 minutes.
After persistent probing and getting into dangerous areas, Egypt were rewarded with the game’s opening goal minutes before the interval.
South Africa defender Khuliso Mudau was found guilty of poking Mohamed Salah in the face following a VAR check by referee Ndabihawenimana.
The resulting spot kick was calmly dispatched by Salah, who bagged his second goal of the competition.
Egypt were dealt a major blow a minute later when Mohamed Hany was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a badly timed tackle, climaxing an engrossing half.
South Africa grew into the game after the break, making the most of the numerical advantage with Mudau’s rasping drive forcing a save from Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy after 73 minutes before Aubrey Modiba was thwarted by El Shenawy three minutes later.
Bafana Bafana momentarily believed a route back into the game was provided when a VAR check was conducted for a handball from Egypt’s Yasser Ibrahim at the death.
But the appeals were waved away and Egypt repelled waves of South African pressure to claim a crucial win.
South Africa will next play Zimbabwe on December 29 for a place in the knockout round while Egypt have sealed their place to the next stage of the competition.
Man of the match: Mohammed El Shenawy (Egypt)