TotalEnergies AFCON, Morocco 2025: Record chasing Egypt face unpredictable Benin

Seven-time champions Egypt will face a potentially tricky test against Benin when the two sides clash in the Round of 16 of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025, at the Grand Stade d’Agadir on Monday evening, reports CAFonline.

The Pharaohs arrive in the knockout stages with a clear objective: to claim a record-extending eighth continental crown. Standing in their way are Benin’s Cheetahs, who are determined to equal, or even surpass, their best-ever AFCON performance, a quarter-final appearance achieved in Egypt in 2019.

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has consistently reiterated his ambition for an “eighth star” throughout the tournament, and his side will be motivated to maintain their pursuit of history against an opponent they have beaten in three of their four previous meetings.

Egypt unbeaten in familiar Agadir 

The North Africans advanced from the group stage unbeaten, securing victories over Zimbabwe and South Africa before playing out a goalless draw against Angola.

With qualification already assured, Hassan opted to rest his key players in the final group match, fielding a fully rotated squad.

Their stars – Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Trezeguet, Mohamed Elshenawy and Omar Marmoush – among others are fully rested, and their focus not in question. Marmoush, Salah and Trezeguet have already formed an attacking axis that has been potent for the Pharaohs.

However, Trezeguet knows only too well it will not be an easy outing against a determined Benin.

“This is a difficult match for us and we must stay focused,” Trezeguet said, a timely reminder that there are no easy opponents at this stage of the competition.

Benin chase more history

Benin, meanwhile, arrive with confidence and ambition of their own. Maybe pushed by a bit of outside poetic coincidences, they hope lady luck smiles their way. Their only previous quarter-final appearance at the AFCON came in Egypt in 2019. The campaign saw them eliminate Morocco on penalties in the Round of 16 before bowing out narrowly to Senegal.

Their current coach, Gernot Rohr, was also in Egypt and guided Nigeria to a third-place finish at the same tournament. Will those same stars shine their way in Agadir?

The Cheetahs have already made history in Morocco. Their maiden AFCON victory, a 1-0 win over Botswana in Rabat, proved decisive in securing their place in the knockout stages.

Buoyed by that breakthrough and eager to write another chapter, Benin know the challenge ahead will be formidable, but not impossible.

“We know Egypt are one of the giants of African football, but we must be courageous when we face them. We are here to compete as well,” said defender Olivier Verdon.

Under the evening lights, ambition meets belief in Agadir; Egypt chasing legacy and Benin daring to dream.

Pre-match quotes:

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan:

We respect Benin. They reached the round of 16 by merit. I have followed them since their World Cup and AFCON qualifiers and I know that they have a very good team with a good plan. We have our ambitions and we have a very good team spirit and I trust my players to do the job and make our people happy.

Benin coach Gernot Rohr:

Egypt is a high level opponent but from the group matches we have played, we have acquired some experience on how to overcome such an opponent. We know we are the underdogs in this game but that does not mean that we don’t have the ambition to play a good match and qualify.

Pre-match stat:

Overall, Egypt and Benin have met four times previously. Egypt have won three of those matches, with one draw, while Benin are yet to register a victory. Egypt have scored in all four meetings, while Benin have found the net in three of them. There has been just one clean sheet in this fixture, Egypt’s 2-0 win at the 2010 finals.

As South Africa fall short 2-1 and sent packing

.Battered for half an hour, the Indomitable Lions bent but did not break before striking with clinical precision.

• Tchamadeu and then Kofane turned the Round of 16 match, despite a lively and dominant South Africa.
• Reduced to defending late in the game, the Cameroonians held firm under pressure to secure qualification in Rabat (2-1).

South Africa 1–2 Cameroon

Scorers: E. Makgopa / J. Tchamadeu 34′, C. Kofane 37′

Suffocated, shaken, sometimes on the edge, Cameroon nevertheless stood firm—and struck at the right moment. Long dominated by an enterprising Bafana Bafana, the Indomitable Lions relied on their efficiency and composure to claim a 2–1 win in Rabat and book their place in the quarter-finals, reports CAFonline.

For the first 30 minutes, South Africa set the tempo. High pressing, vertical play, clear chances: Cameroon bent but did not break, saved by Epassy and South Africa’s own imprecision. Then, in a match waiting for a turning point, Tchamadeu appeared in the 33rd minute. One shot, one goal, and suddenly the game shifted.

Revitalized, the Cameroonians took control. Immediately after the break, Kofane struck in the 47th minute, doubling the lead with a composed diving header. The blow was harsh for Bafana Bafana, but typical of knockout football.

South Africa never gave up. Makgopa reignited hope in the 87th minute, and Rabat held its breath. Epassy was tested but held firm… and Cameroon survived. Solid, organised, sometimes on the edge, the Lions resisted until the final whistle.

Dominated but qualified, challenged but lucid, Cameroon moves forward. The Indomitable Lions will face Morocco on Friday at the Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.

Morocco booked their place in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 with a narrow 1–0 victory over Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday, as Brahim Diaz’s second-half strike proved decisive.

The breakthrough came after a patient but testing evening for the hosts, who dominated possession but found clear chances hard to come by against a well-organized Tanzanian side determined to extend their historic run at the tournament.

Morocco, captained by Achraf Hakimi for the first time at this edition, controlled the opening exchanges but struggled to turn territorial dominance into goals. Tanzania sat deep, closed spaces efficiently and repeatedly denied the Atlas Lions room to operate in the final third.

The home side thought they had made the breakthrough midway through the first half when Ismail Saibari finished from close range in the 24th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out following a VAR review for offside. It was a moment that underlined Morocco’s frustration as the first period ended goalless.

Walid Regragui’s side emerged with greater urgency after the restart. Brahim Diaz was immediately involved, forcing a corner with a glancing header, before Bilal El Khannouss fired narrowly over the crossbar in the 52nd minute as Morocco began to turn the screw.

Tanzania, however, almost stunned the hosts against the run of play. Feisal Toto found himself unmarked inside the box in the 56th minute but sent his effort high over the bar, squandering what would have been a remarkable opener.

Roared on by a capacity crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex, Morocco finally found the decisive moment just past the hour mark.

Diaz produced a moment of individual brilliance in the 63rd minute, cutting in and finishing from a tight angle to beat the goalkeeper and ignite celebrations in the stands.

The goal was Diaz’s fourth of the tournament, taking him clear at the top of the scoring charts and once again underlining his importance to Morocco’s title ambitions.

Despite continued pressure and several half-chances, the hosts were unable to add to their lead. Tanzania remained competitive until the final whistle, but could not find a way back as Morocco held firm to secure progression.

With the win, Morocco advance to the quarter-finals, where they will meet the winner of the Round of 16 clash between South Africa and Cameroon at the Stade Al Madina in Rabat.

REACTIONS

Brahim Diaz – TotalEnergies Man of the Match:

“The competition is growing in intensity and we have just faced our toughest opposition so far against this Tanzanian team. Not everything worked, we know that, but fortunately we managed to secure our qualification. Now we will go back to work to be fully ready for the quarter-finals.”

Miguel Ángel Gamondi – Tanzania head coach:
“I am so proud of what my team produced. So proud of my players, both in their attitude and tactically. They showed that the gap between Morocco and us is not as big as people think. We will come back stronger, I am convinced of that.”

Walid Regragui – Morocco head coach:
“We knew it was not going to be easy, judging by the matches we saw yesterday, even if we thought it might be more straightforward. The first half was not good, but I recognised my team much more in the second half. The most important thing is qualification. As for Azzedine Ounahi, he picked up an injury in training and is out of the Africa Cup of Nations. We are losing an exceptional player and a leader in our dressing room, but we will continue to fight for him.”

As Diaz sends hosts into AFCON quarter-finals

• Morocco were frustrated by Tanzania’s disciplined defence in the first half

• Brahim Diaz struck again after the break to decide a tight contest

• The Atlas Lions will face the winner of South Africa vs Cameroon in the quarter-finals

Morocco booked their place in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 with a narrow 1–0 victory over Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday, as Brahim Diaz’s second-half strike proved decisive, reports CAFonline.

The breakthrough came after a patient but testing evening for the hosts, who dominated possession but found clear chances hard to come by against a well-organized Tanzanian side determined to extend their historic run at the tournament.

Morocco, captained by Achraf Hakimi for the first time at this edition, controlled the opening exchanges but struggled to turn territorial dominance into goals. Tanzania sat deep, closed spaces efficiently and repeatedly denied the Atlas Lions room to operate in the final third.

The home side thought they had made the breakthrough midway through the first half when Ismail Saibari finished from close range in the 24th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out following a VAR review for offside. It was a moment that underlined Morocco’s frustration as the first period ended goalless.

Walid Regragui’s side emerged with greater urgency after the restart. Brahim Diaz was immediately involved, forcing a corner with a glancing header, before Bilal El Khannouss fired narrowly over the crossbar in the 52nd minute as Morocco began to turn the screw.

Tanzania, however, almost stunned the hosts against the run of play. Feisal Toto found himself unmarked inside the box in the 56th minute but sent his effort high over the bar, squandering what would have been a remarkable opener.

Roared on by a capacity crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex, Morocco finally found the decisive moment just past the hour mark.

Diaz produced a moment of individual brilliance in the 63rd minute, cutting in and finishing from a tight angle to beat the goalkeeper and ignite celebrations in the stands.

The goal was Diaz’s fourth of the tournament, taking him clear at the top of the scoring charts and once again underlining his importance to Morocco’s title ambitions.

Despite continued pressure and several half-chances, the hosts were unable to add to their lead. Tanzania remained competitive until the final whistle, but could not find a way back as Morocco held firm to secure progression.

With the win, Morocco advance to the quarter-finals, where they will meet the winner of the Round of 16 clash between South Africa and Cameroon at the Stade Al Madina in Rabat.

REACTIONS

Brahim Diaz – TotalEnergies Man of the Match:

“The competition is growing in intensity and we have just faced our toughest opposition so far against this Tanzanian team. Not everything worked, we know that, but fortunately we managed to secure our qualification. Now we will go back to work to be fully ready for the quarter-finals.”

Miguel Ángel Gamondi – Tanzania head coach:
“I am so proud of what my team produced. So proud of my players, both in their attitude and tactically. They showed that the gap between Morocco and us is not as big as people think. We will come back stronger, I am convinced of that.”

Walid Regragui – Morocco head coach:
“We knew it was not going to be easy, judging by the matches we saw yesterday, even if we thought it might be more straightforward. The first half was not good, but I recognized my team much more in the second half. The most important thing is qualification. As for Azzedine Ounahi, he picked up an injury in training and is out of the Africa Cup of Nations. We are losing an exceptional player and a leader in our dressing room, but we will continue to fight for him.”

In a clash between ambition and caution

Hosts Morocco will take on Tanzania on Sunday in Rabat, in the Round of 16 at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, carrying the status of clear favorites, but with one guiding principle firmly in mind: humility, reports CAFonline.

Against Tanzania, who have qualified for the knockout phases for the first time in their history, the Atlas Lions are fully aware that the AFCON punishes any lapse in concentration or excess of confidence. As hosts, buoyed by passionate home support, Morocco move forward with lofty ambitions. Yet, head coach Walid Regragui has consistently reminded his players that the hardest part of the journey begins now.

For the Moroccan tactician, the group stage is already history. Knockout football, however, brings a different reality. One where margins are thinner and mistakes often decisive.“AFCON is won as much with the mind as with the legs,” Regragui has repeatedly stressed, warning his squad of the dangers posed by a disciplined, fearless opponent playing without pressure.

Morocco continue their pursuit of a continental crown that has eluded them since 1976. Nearly five decades of waiting fuel both expectation and caution. On several occasions, the Atlas Lions have been undone by supposedly less-fancied opponents, victims of mental lapses rather than a lack of quality.

This time, Regragui is determined to break that cycle. The presence of experienced leaders strengthens that resolve. At the back, Achraf Hakimi and Romain Saïss provide valuable reassurance, tactically and psychologically.

Image credit: CAFonline

A respected captain, Saïss embodies the team’s commitment to focus on what truly matters.“We know what this match represents. At this stage, there are no favourites. Only teams fighting to survive. Any lack of humility or concentration will be punished immediately,” the central defender warned.

Across the pitch, Tanzania are savoring a historic first qualification for the AFCON Round of 16. A landmark achievement already, but one the Taifa Stars refuse to treat as a mere anecdote.

At the helm, Miguel Ángel Gamondi brings deep knowledge of Moroccan football. The Argentine coach spent many years working in Morocco, managing several top-flight clubs. His familiarity with the environment, crowd pressure and tactical culture could prove invaluable.

That insight underpins Tanzania’s preparation, built on defensive discipline, quick transitions and collective organization, an approach shaped by a team playing under no pressure.Captain Mbwana Samatta, expected to lead the hunt for goals in Rabat reflects that quiet ambition.

“We have great respect for Morocco, especially at home. But we are not here to admire anyone. It’s 11 against 11, and we want to show that Tanzania deserve to be at this level,” said the striker.

What They Said

Mbwana Samatta (Tanzania):

“We have cards to play. Morocco are a heavyweight of African football, but we believe in our strengths. We trust our qualities to upset the odds and prove that our presence at this stage is no coincidence.”

Image credit: CAFonline

Romain Saïss (Morocco):

“The hardest part begins now. It’s simple: you win and you go through, or the journey ends. There are no calculations anymore. We must stay focused and pursue our objectives. Tanzania are not an easy team to face, and it’s up to us to show our value on the pitch.”

Pre-Match Stat

Tanzania’s only victory over Morocco dates back to the FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifiers—a 3–1 home win on 24 March 2013 in Dar es Salaam. Goals from Thomas Ulimwengu and a Mbwana Samatta brace sealed the result, while Youssef El Arabi scored a late consolation for Morocco.

The return leg in June 2013 ended in a 2–1 win for the Atlas Lions, though neither side qualified for the Brazil finals.

Their most recent meeting came in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 on 22 August 2025, where Morocco edged co-hosts Tanzania 1–0 on their way to lifting the title. Oussama Lamlioui scored the decisive goal in the 65th minute.