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Salah won the penalty when he was clipped in the face by South Africa defender Khuliso Mudau as they tussled for the ball in the box, and stepped up to convert easily for his second goal of the tournament.

Egypt lost right-back Mohamed Hany to a red card for an ugly stamp at the end of the first half and faced wave after wave of South Africa attacks in the second period, as the latter was denied a penalty of its own for handball after a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) check.

South Africa will feel aggrieved with the spot-kick decision, especially after Pacifique Ndabihawenimana was called over to the screen on the sideline.

But Bafana Bafana also did not have enough quality in the final third to punish Egypt and drive home their dominance in the second half.

South Africa had 17 shots in the second half alone, but many were wayward in what was a frustrating performance for coach Hugo Broos.

Salah converted the spot-kick, his 65th goal in international football and his second of the tournament in Morocco.

But it was reduced to 10 men in stoppage-time at the end of the first half when Hany stamped on the foot of Teboho Mokoena and received a second yellow card, leaving his side to play the entire second half with a numerical disadvantage.

Mudau’s shot forced a good save from El Shenawy as South Africa camped in its opponent's half to try to force an equaliser.

Lyle Foster’s flick into the path of Aubrey Modiba created another opportunity from eight yards, but El Shenawy saved again and South Africa was left to ponder a frustrating defeat and its first competitive loss under coach Hugo Broos in almost two years.

Egypt has six points from its opening two games and has won the group with a game to spare. South Africa has three points from its two games, while Zimbabwe and Angola have one each after they drew 1-1 earlier in the day.