Egypt was held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Benin in their opening match of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations on January 6th. The Pharaohs, one of the tournament favorites, took an early lead through their captain from the penalty spot after a handball in the box. Despite controlling much of the game, Egypt failed to add a second goal and were punished when Benin scored a stunning equalizer from a long-range strike against the run of play in the 70th minute. Egypt pushed for a winner, with their striker having a goal correctly ruled out for offside by VAR, but could not find a breakthrough. The draw was considered two points dropped for Egypt, complicating their path in a competitive group. Benin celebrated the result as a historic point. Egypt's manager expressed frustration at his team's wastefulness, while Benin's coach called it a proud moment for the nation.