Record seven-time champions Egypt continue their quest for an eighth continental crown this Monday as they face Benin in the Round of 16 in Agadir.
The Pharaohs enter the knockout phase as one of the tournament’s form teams, while the Cheetahs of Benin sneak through as one of the best third-placed finishers, hoping to recreate the magic of their famous 2019 run.
Egypt dominated Group B, finishing unbeaten with seven points, while Benin’s journey has been more turbulent, securing their spot only after a crucial narrow win over Botswana helped them overcome defeats to DR Congo and Senegal.
Match details: Time and Venue
The clash moves away from the capital to the coastal city of Agadir, where a large traveling contingent of Egyptian fans is expected to fill the Grand Stade.
- Date: Monday, 5 January 2026
- Kick-off: 16:00 GMT (17:00 local time)
- Venue: Adrar Stadium (Grand Stade d’Agadir), Agadir
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Where to watch globally
The 2025 edition of AFCON continues into the business end of the tournament. Fans can follow this knockout clash through the following major providers:
- UK: Channel 4 (Free-to-air) on 4Seven, E4, and the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel.
- USA & Canada: beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español. Streaming via Fubo, Sling TV, and Fanatiz.
- Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport (English/Portuguese) and Canal+ Afrique (French).
- Egypt & MENA: beIN SPORTS MENA is the primary rights holder for the region.
- South Africa: SABC 1 and the SABC+ app.
- Australia & NZ: beIN SPORTS CONNECT.
Team news
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has revitalized the Pharaohs with a blend of steely defense and clinical finishing. Captain Mohamed Salah, currently on two goals for the tournament, remains the focal point of the attack. Egypt is monitoring the fitness of Mohanad Lashin, who suffered a rib injury in the final group game against Angola, but they welcome back the creative Emam Ashour to the starting lineup.
Preps for Benin: 𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 💪🇪🇬#egyptnt pic.twitter.com/ZF4oEnpxy6
— Egypt National Team (@EgyptNT_EN) January 3, 2026
Benin, managed by Gernot Rohr, will likely adopt a defensive posture to frustrate the Egyptian stars. The Cheetahs will lean heavily on the experience of Steve Mounié to lead the line, while Junior Olaitan is expected to provide the pace on the counter-attack. Benin has a clean bill of health following their physical encounter with Senegal, though Rohr may shift to a back five to deal with Egypt’s wing play.
David vs. Goliath?
History heavily favors the North African giants. In their four previous meetings, Egypt has never lost to Benin, winning three times and drawing once. The most recent AFCON meeting between the two was a 2-0 victory for the Pharaohs in 2010—the year Egypt claimed their last title.
However, the Egyptian camp is taking nothing for granted.
“There are no longer any weak teams in Africa,” said Egypt midfielder Emam Ashour. “We are focusing heavily on Benin. Our goal is the title, but we must respect every opponent to get there.”
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Benin will look to their 2019 script, where they famously knocked out Morocco at this same stage. Gernot Rohr remains defiant:
“Egypt are the favorites, but pressure can be a heavy burden. We have already achieved our first goal by qualifying; now we play with freedom.”
Round of 16: Monday Fixtures
| Match | Venue | Time (GMT) |
| Egypt vs Benin | Agadir | 16:00 |
| Nigeria vs Mozambique | Casablanca | 19:00 |
