Mohamed Salah’s stunning 30-yard winner against Benin has sent Egypt to the AFCON quarterfinals and signaled a return to form that provides a major boost for both his national team and Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah has propelled Egypt into the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals after scoring a decisive goal in their round-of-16 victory over Benin.
Deep into stoppage time, the Liverpool forward capitalized on a cleared long throw-in, sprinting from his own half to execute a 30-yard outside-of-the-boot finish.
The goal secured Egypt’s progression and showcased a player who appears to have rediscovered his signature spark on the international stage.
The Egyptian captain’s renewed joy stands in stark contrast to a difficult first half of the Premier League season under Arne Slot.
After being benched following a dip in form—netting only five goals in 20 appearances—Salah now has three goals in three games at AFCON.
Reflecting on his commitment, the forward expressed the honor he feels representing his nation, appearing unburdened by the recent complications of club soccer and transfer speculation.
While Salah will miss Liverpool’s upcoming matches against Arsenal and Barnsley due to Egypt’s deep tournament run, his resurgence is a welcome sight for the Reds.
Liverpool has struggled for attacking consistency in his absence, but his form in Morocco suggests he will return at his peak.
As Egypt prepares for Saturday’s quarterfinal, supporters on both continents are hopeful that Salah’s “spark” will lead to a successful 2026.