In Agadir on Friday, December 26, 2025, Mohamed Salah did what leaders do. He took the heat, waited for the whistle, and with one cool chip from the spot, sent Egypt into the AFCON 2025 knockout stage. The 1-0 win over South Africa had everything: a video review, a red card, and a late flare-up with VAR. Through it all, Egypt held firm. And thanks to their captain, they are the first team to book a place in the next round.

Salah’s moment: VAR, nerve, and a gentle chip

The game hinged on a first-half flashpoint. A VAR review confirmed that Khuliso Mudau fouled Salah in the box. It was a clear turning point. Up stepped Salah in the 45th minute. No blast, no panic. Just a delicate chip over Ronwen Williams. The ball kissed the net. Egypt breathed out.

The strike matched the occasion. It was pressure football, handled by the right man. As one fevered call put it, “Penalty it is… MO SALAH PUTS EGYPT AHEAD… a sumptuous strike from the marvelous Mo Salah.” Another voice nailed the mood: “Composure goes right straight the line. Ronwen Williams with no chance. Pressure penalty for the right man.” In a tight Group B contest, that quality and calm made the difference.

Egypt’s discipline tested: Hany’s red turns the match

Just before halftime, the task got harder. Mohamed Hany received a second booking and was sent off. Egypt would have to protect the lead with 10 men for the entire second half. That changes everything: the spacing, the pressing, the risk. Egypt chose control and grit. They slowed the game when they could and stepped in when they had to.

With a man down, every duel mattered. Every clearance and every run had value. Egypt leaned on structure and a strong team shape, asking South Africa to play through them. The clock was Egypt’s friend, but only if they stayed calm. They did.

“Ten men, one king: Salah turned a tight game into a statement.”

AFCON 2025 VAR drama: one award, one denial

Video review was at the heart of this match. First, VAR confirmed the penalty that gave Salah his chance and Egypt their lead. Late on, South Africa shouted for a spot kick after a handball in the box. Again, everyone waited for the check. Again, VAR had the final say — no penalty. The decision stood, and so did Egypt’s 1-0 advantage.

These moments define major tournaments now. They slow things down, but they also raise the standard of big calls. Here, both reviews carried huge weight: one to give Egypt their edge, the other to protect it. The balance fell Egypt’s way.

“If that late handball’s a pen, football’s broken. VAR got it right.”

Egypt vs South Africa: the Group B picture

What does this result mean? It is huge. With the win, Egypt moved top of Group B and became the first nation to reach the knockout stage at AFCON 2025. That brings security and a touch of freedom for their final group action. It also sends a message: even when they play short-handed, Egypt still find a way.

For South Africa, it is a setback, not a collapse. They beat Angola 2-1 on December 22, so their campaign remains alive. The margins in Group B are tight, and this defeat will sting because they had the ball and late hope. But they are still very much in the hunt to advance.

• Result: Egypt 1-0 South Africa
• Scorer: Mohamed Salah (pen, 45′)
• Red card: Mohamed Hany (second yellow, before halftime)
• Key reviews: VAR awarded Egypt’s penalty; VAR denied South Africa’s late handball appeal

Resilience and identity: what we learned

Egypt showed two qualities that win tournaments: cool heads and strong habits. The cool head was Salah from the spot. The strong habits were team discipline after the red card. With 10 men, teams can panic. Egypt didn’t. They trusted their shape, controlled the space, and kept South Africa at arm’s length for long spells.

South Africa, for their part, can take heart from their control phases and their push for a late lifeline. They asked questions and forced Egypt into hard yards. But they lacked that final action: the pass, the shot, the break that flips a tight game. In tournaments, those details decide everything.

“Egypt didn’t just survive — they managed the chaos.”

Why Salah’s penalty matters beyond the score

This goal was more than a number on the board. It set the tone for Egypt’s whole night. A captain’s conversion right before halftime can steady a team and change the other side’s plan. South Africa had to chase. Egypt could pick their moments and manage the game, even with one fewer player. That swing is priceless in a tournament group match.

It also reminds the field that Salah lives for big moments. Pressure is his normal. When Egypt need a lift, the armband finds a way to deliver. At AFCON level, that kind of trust inside a squad is a superpower.

What’s next

Egypt can now plan forward with calm. They are through, and they earned it with nerve and togetherness. The focus will be on smart recovery, keeping the group fresh, and sharpening details for the knockout games, where one mistake can end a run.

South Africa will regroup with belief. That win over Angola keeps them in range, and their effort in Agadir showed they can go toe-to-toe. The path is clear: take chances, keep composure, and stay alert when the big calls arrive. As this game proved, the big calls always come.

The bottom line

On a tense night in Agadir, the difference was class at the spot and courage without the ball. Salah supplied the first. Egypt’s 10 men delivered the second. The reward is major: top of Group B and the honor of being the first side into the AFCON 2025 knockouts. The Pharaohs are moving on. The pursuit continues.