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mohammed salah Scored a penalty in the first half as a 10-man egypt Defeated South Africa their 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations Group B will fight to be the first team to reach the knockout stage of the competition.
Egypt have six points from their opening two matches and have won their group with one game remaining. South Africa have three points from their two matches, while Zimbabwe and Angola have one point each as they were tied 1-1 at the start of the day.
Salah was awarded a penalty when he was clipped in the face by South African defender Khuliso Mudou while battling for the ball in the box, and proceeded to easily convert his second goal of the tournament.
Egypt lost right-back Mohamed Hani to a red card due to an ugly stamp at the end of the first half and faced wave after wave of South African attacks in the second half, as the latter were denied their own penalty for handball after a lengthy VAR investigation.
South Africa would feel aggrieved by the spot-kick decision, especially after Pacifica Ndabihwenimana was called out for a screen on the sideline.
But even in the final third they did not have enough quality to punish Egypt and dominate the second half.
South Africa had 17 shots in the second half alone, but many of them were inaccurate, which would be a disappointing performance for coach Hugo Bruce.
Salah converted the spot-kick, his 65th goal in international football and second goal of the tournament in Morocco.
But they were reduced to 10 players in extra time at the end of the first half when Heaney stamped on Teboho Mokoena’s foot and received a second yellow card, leaving his team with a numerical disadvantage for the entire second half.
Mudau’s shot forced El Shenawy to make a good save as South Africa camped in their opponents’ half to attempt the equaliser.
Lyle Foster’s flick into the path of Aubrey Modiba created another chance from eight yards, but El Shenawy again saved and South Africa were left with a disappointing defeat and their first competitive defeat under coach Hugo Bruce in almost two years.