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Mohamed Salah places Liverpool controversy behind him with dramatic winner towards Zimbabwe of their AFCON opener.
Printed On 23 Dec 2025
Mohamed Salah snatched a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Egypt got here from behind to beat Zimbabwe 2-1 of their first fixture on the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco on Monday.
Egypt’s captain, beginning his first sport after 4 successive matches on the bench at Liverpool, fired residence a left-footed effort within the 91st minute to earn the seven-time champions a late victory after Zimbabwe had shocked them by going forward within the first half.
Beneficial Tales
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Egypt laid an early siege to Zimbabwe’s purpose, but it surely was the underdogs who netted first by way of Prince Dube within the twentieth minute.
It was left to Egypt’s Premier League contingent of Omar Marmoush, who equalised within the sixty fourth minute, and talisman Salah to see them to a last-gasp victory.
Salah had come into the match in Morocco underneath the highlight following a fiery outburst after being dropped by the Premier League champions, and struggled to seek out his rhythm for a lot of the match on the Grande Stade d’Agadir. When it counted, nonetheless, he swept residence the winner to see Egypt be part of South Africa, who beat Angola 2-1 earlier in Marrakesh, on the prime of Group B.
It was as a lot as Egypt deserved, breaking a run of six successive attracts over the past two editions of the Cup of Nations.
They’d 4 good possibilities within the opening 10 minutes as they put Zimbabwe underneath intense strain however fell behind when Emmanuel Jalai fed the ball inside for Dube, who turned in possession and positioned his effort into the underside left nook.
It might have been 2-0 as Daniel Msendami’s tempo arrange a scrambled likelihood for Washington Navaya that Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy managed to collect earlier than it might be bundled over the road.
Marmoush sole impact
Marmoush equalised within the sixty fourth minute, selecting up a protracted go on the left wing earlier than slicing inside and firing residence along with his proper foot from an acute angle for an outstanding solo purpose.
“We created many possibilities with out having the ability to rating early, however ultimately every thing went effectively,” Marmoush stated.
“We stored an excellent mindset and completed the match strongly. We’ll be taught from every thing that occurred in tonight’s sport.”
Substitute Ahmed Zizo ought to have headed residence on the again submit from Mohamed Hamdy’s inviting cross however put his effort large, and missed once more 4 minutes from the tip when Salah teed him up with an excellent likelihood.
It was left to Salah to safe the three factors, holding off his marker to carry the ball underneath management earlier than steering it residence for his first purpose since early final month.
Within the subsequent set of Group B fixtures, Egypt meet South Africa in Agadir on Boxing Day whereas Zimbabwe and Angola conflict on Friday in Marrakesh.
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