Egypt booked their place in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after beating Benin 3-1 after extra time in their last-16 clash on Monday.
Marwan Atteya and Yasser Ibrahim scored their first international goals, while Mohamed Salah netted his 10th Africa Cup of Nations goal to seal the win.
Atteya opened the scoring in the 69th minute before substitute striker Jodel Dossou levelled for Benin in the 83rd minute to force extra time.
The midfielder then turned provider in the 97th minute, delivering a cross that was headed home by defender Yasser Ibrahim to restore Egypt’s lead.
Salah added a last-gasp third in the second half of extra time to confirm the victory.
In contrast to the group-stage match against Angola, when the Pharaohs fielded a second-string side, Egypt started with their regular line-up, with winger Ibrahim Adel replacing Ahmed “Zizo” Sayed.
Egypt signaled their attacking intent early when Salah released Omar Marmoush, whose one-on-one effort was denied by Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou in the seventh minute.
Marmoush went close again in the 20th minute after following up a rebound from the keeper, but a Benin defender cleared the danger.
Benin created several chances of their own but were comfortably dealt with by the Egyptian defense and goalkeeper.
Both teams were forced into first-half substitutions, with Benin forward Aiyegun Tosin taken off with a muscle injury, while Egypt fullback Mohamed Hamdy was stretchered off with a knee injury just before the break, making way for Ahmed Fatouh.
Egypt wasted a clear chance to open the scoring early in the second half when Rami Rabia’s close-range effort went wide after slight deflections from the goalkeeper and a defender.
Just before the hour mark, Egypt made a double change, with Emam Ashour replacing Ibrahim Adel and Ahmed “Zizo” Sayed coming on for the injured Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan.
Minutes later, goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy kept Egypt level by denying Dossou from close range.
Atteya finally broke the deadlock in the 69th minute, finishing from the edge of the area after a one-two between Salah and Mohamed Hany.
It was Atteya’s first goal in 29 international appearances.
Benin pushed forward in search of an equalizer and were rewarded in the 83rd minute when Dossou followed up a deflected shot from Fatouh to fire home.
Salah missed a late chance to win it in normal time, with his close-range effort collected by the goalkeeper, and seven minutes of added time failed to produce a winner.
Ibrahim’s header early in extra time put Egypt back in front, marking his first goal in 12 internationals.
Benin pressed for another equalizer but were unable to break down an organized Egyptian defense, and Salah sealed the win in the dying minutes with a composed lob after being set up by Zizo.
Egypt will face the winner of the match between defending champions Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals on Saturday.