Overview
- Egypt beat South Africa 1-0 in Agadir as Mohamed Salah won and converted a VAR-checked penalty, securing top spot in Group B and a place in the round of 16.
- Morocco drew 1-1 with Mali in Rabat, with Brahim Díaz scoring from the spot before a VAR-awarded penalty allowed Lassine Sinayoko to equalize; Achraf Hakimi stayed on the bench.
- Morocco must finish the group against Zambia to clinch qualification and potentially first place, while Mali now target a decisive win over Comoros.
- A 15-minute VAR outage was recorded in DR Congo–Benin earlier in the week, adding to scrutiny of officiating after multiple pivotal reviews across matches.
- Heavy rain has not halted play thanks to SubAir pitch technology, and free entry initiatives swelled crowds in Agadir, prompting concerns over congestion.