Egypt captain Mohamed Salah expressed deep satisfaction with the fighting spirit of his young teammates following their hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory over Benin, which secured their spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-finals.
While the Liverpool forward scored the decisive third goal, he was quick to shift the focus to the collective effort of a squad he had previously described as lacking the experience to be tournament favourites.
"We have young players, and most of them play in Egypt. "We just fight for our country... but everybody gives their best and you could see today," Salah told reporters after the match.
His praise highlighted the core identity of the current Pharaohs side—a team built more on resilience and unity than on star power. The victory, which required 120 minutes of intense effort against a stubborn Benin side, served as the perfect example of the spirit Salah commended. "The level is quite similar; I told the team yesterday that no side loses by four or five goals," he added, acknowledging the tournament's competitive nature that demands such grit.
This commendation from the team's iconic leader is a significant boost for Egypt's emerging talents as they prepare for a monumental quarter-final clash on Saturday in Agadir.
There, they will face either defending champions Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso, a match where the young squad's celebrated fighting spirit will face its ultimate test. For Salah, their progress is a testament not to being favourites, but to a collective will that can defy expectations on the path to a record-extending eighth title.
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