In a heated opening match of Group B of the 2025 African Cup of Nations, Egypt produced a thrilling comeback in the second half to secure a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe.
Egypt went into the game as favorites to win the title, but they found themselves trailing at Agadir’s Stade Adrar and ultimately relied on the brilliance of captain Mohamed Salah to snatch all three points in the final minute.
The victory gave coach Hossam Hassan’s side the perfect start in their quest for a record-extending eighth continental title.
Mohamed Salah scores the winning goal for Egypt
Egypt dominated in the early stages and despite Salah creating several chances for Trezeguet, Prince Dube scored in the 20th minute to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead going into the half-time break.
Egypt showed new intensity in the second half, pushing Zimbabwe deep into their own half.
The pressure finally got through in the 63rd minute when Manchester City striker Omar Marmouche scored the equalizer.
As the clock ticked towards full-time, it looked like Zimbabwe might win a historic draw.
But in the 91st minute, Mohamed Salah reminded the world why he remains the talisman of Egyptian football.
Salah collected a pass on the edge of the area, thwarted a challenge from teenager Hadebe and clinically slotted the ball into the goal, sending the away fans into a frenzy.
Look at the goal:
Salah’s performance proves he is not Liverpool’s problem
Beyond Egypt’s three points, Mohamed Salah continues to make headlines away from the Premier League.
The Egyptian has surprisingly struggled in terms of goal output for Liverpool this season. However, his performance against Zimbabwe suggests that his decline in form in front of goal has more to do with Arne Slott’s tactics than a decline in player ability.
This point is further supported by his consistent production with the national team. Salah scored three goals in World Cup qualifiers between September and October and had a perfect start to the AFCON.
His recent performance in the 2-0 win over Brighton served as a reminder to Slott and his critics that he remains Liverpool’s most dangerous asset.
Salah’s future with the club remains the subject of intense media scrutiny as the January transfer window approaches.
It remains to be seen whether things will improve at Anfield after AFCON, but the King of Egypt shows no signs of slowing down on the international stage.
