Mohamed Salah’s 91st-minute goal earned Egypt a 2-1 comeback win over Zimbabwe, setting the stage for a high-stakes Group B showdown against South Africa.
Mohamed Salah scored in the first minute of added time to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory for Egypt over Zimbabwe in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B opener.
The Liverpool forward, who has faced recent scrutiny following a sideline spat with manager Arne Slot, delivered the decisive blow in Agadir.
The victory places the seven-time champions in a strong position ahead of their upcoming clash against rivals South Africa this Friday.
Egypt were initially rattled after falling behind to a 20th-minute goal from Prince Dube. Despite the setback, the Pharaohs maintained relentless pressure, eventually equalizing in the 63rd minute through Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush. Zimbabwe’s defense remained gallant until the final moments when Salah’s perseverance finally paid off. The win marks a vital start for the title favorites, who struggled to break down a disciplined and resilient Zimbabwean side throughout the match.Earlier in Group B, South Africa ended an 18-year winless streak in AFCON openers by defeating Angola 2-1. Burnley striker Lyle Foster netted the winner in the 79th minute following a dominant second-half display. Reflecting on the performance, South African coach Hugo Broos stated: “We had to avoid losing tonight because next up for us are Egypt. We led in the opening half and then we fell asleep.”