Mohamed Salah was again on the scoresheet as Egypt extended their run at the Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-1 win over Benin to reach the quarter-finals.
Mohamed Salah AFCON Update: Egypt reach quarter-finals
The goal: Salah scored a stunning extra-time trivela to seal a 3-1 win over Benin, marking his third goal in three appearances.
The schedule: Egypt progress to the quarter-finals on January 10; Salah is now officially ruled out of Liverpool’s trip to Arsenal (Jan 8).
The return: If Egypt reach the final, Salah is unlikely to feature for the Reds until Marseille in the Champions League on January 21 at the earliest.
Salah made sure of Egypt’s victory at the very end of extra time with a stunning effort to put his side 3-1 up, after an initial 1-1 draw in normal time.
It means Liverpool’s No. 11 will stay at the Africa Cup of Nations for at least another week, with Egypt’s quarter-final taking place on January 10.
That rules him out of Thursday’s clash with Arsenal (Jan 8) in the Premier League as expected, while Salah will almost certainly miss the FA Cup third-round tie against Barnsley (Jan 12) regardless of his country’s fortunes.
WATCH: Mohamed Salah’s Extra-Time Trivela Goal vs. Benin (Video)
Mohamed Salah scores his 66th goal for Egypt vs Benin ???#AFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/7xbDTPmLTW
— (fan) ?.??? (@FCSALAH11) January 5, 2026
Egypt will play either Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso in the next round, with the winners of their quarter-final taking on Mali or Senegal in the semis.
There is the potential for a reunion of Salah and Sadio Mane, then, ahead of a final that could involve hosts Morocco.
While considered favourites heading into their round-of-16 clash on Monday evening, Egypt struggled to overcome Benin in normal time with Marwan Attia’s goal cancelled out by Jodel Dossou late on.
Mohamed Salah Egypt (Sebo47 / Alamy Stock Photo)
Yasser Ibrahim put Egypt 2-1 up early into extra time before Salah’s trivela from outside the box as Egypt broke in the dying minutes.
Salah has now scored in each of his three appearances so far at this year’s AFCON, having also netted in the winners in group clashes with Zimbabwe and South Africa.
He was rested for the Group B closer against Angola – a 0-0 draw – with Egypt already assured of a place in the knockouts and going on to finish top.
When will Mo Salah return from AFCON?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 13, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While his departure to the tournament in Morocco came under a cloud due to his public criticism of Liverpool and Arne Slot, the 33-year-old had repaired his relationship to an extent prior to joining the Egypt squad.
That saw him assist in the 2-0 win over Brighton before he flew out to Morocco, and following injury to Alexander Isak and more recently Hugo Ekitike, he will need to be reintegrating in a key role upon his return.
Mo Salah‘s Schedule: Egypt & Liverpool Fixture Clashes
When that will be remains to be seen, with Egypt now among the favourites to win AFCON which would see him miss another two weeks of club football.
If Salah did captain his country to the final on January 18, his earliest return fixture be against Marseille in the Champions League on January 21 – though even that would be doubtful.