Salah scored in the 90+1 minute as Egypt came from behind to beat Zimbabwe.
Trailing for much of the match, Egypt had to rely on a moment of brilliance from Omar Marmoush and a decisive goal from Mohamed Salah in injury time to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory against Zimbabwe.
Dramatic until injury time
Just when everyone thought a draw was inevitable, the class of the biggest star shone through. In the 90+1 minute, Mohamed Salah received a header from Mostafa Mohamed, controlled the ball neatly before unleashing a powerful low shot with his left foot, securing an emotional 2-1 victory for Egypt against Zimbabwe in their opening match at AFCON 2025.
The victory at the Stade d'Agadir stadium on the morning of December 23rd (Vietnam time) earned "The Pharaohs" all three points, but it was a hard-fought journey against a supposedly weaker opponent.
Surprise from Zimbabwe
Although Egypt controlled the game, it was Zimbabwe who created the surprise. In the 20th minute, from a well-executed attack down the right wing, Emmanuel Jalai delivered an accurate cross for Prince Dube to decisively finish with his left foot, opening the scoring for the visitors.
The early goal left Egypt in disarray. They pushed forward in attack but were met with a disciplined and tenacious Zimbabwe defense. The Egyptian coach was forced to make a substitution in the first half, bringing Mostafa Mohamed on in the 34th minute. However, opportunities went to waste, most notably Trezeguet's header being blocked in the 45+4 minute, leaving Egypt trailing at halftime.
Effort pays off.
In the second half, Egypt intensified their pressure. After a series of attempts to score, the equalizer finally came. In the 64th minute, Mohamed Hamdy made a clever pass to Omar Marmoush. The striker skillfully controlled the ball before unleashing a powerful right-footed shot from a tight angle, sending the ball straight into the top corner of the net, leveling the score at 1-1.
The goal relieved the pressure on Egypt, allowing them to play more freely, but it also made the match more intense with many clashes. In the 82nd minute, the home team suffered a setback when defender Mohamed Hamdy sustained an injury and had to leave the field.
The star's class speaks for itself.
As the match drew to a close and a draw seemed imminent, the decisive moment arrived. From a one-two pass by Mostafa Mohamed, Salah proved his worth with a cool finish, securing a valuable three points for Egypt.
This hard-fought victory is a testament to the mettle of a championship contender, and also demonstrates Mohamed Salah's irreplaceable influence in the national team.
