Mohamed Salah delivered a moment of pure, late drama to spare Egypt's blushes and secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over a resilient Zimbabwe in their opening Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) group match.
Salah Seals Dramatic Turnaround
The record seven-time Afcon champions were staring at a shocking defeat before a stunning equaliser and a last-gasp winner turned the game on its head in Agadir. After falling behind to Prince Dube's 20th-minute strike for Zimbabwe, Egypt needed a moment of magic from Omar Marmoush in the 64th minute to level the scores.
As the match entered stoppage time, it was the talismanic Salah who had the final say. The Liverpool forward, who had faded after a bright start, found space in the penalty area, swivelled, and scored with a scuffed left-footed half-volley in the 91st minute to snatch all three points for his nation.
A Test of Nerve for the Pharaohs
The match did not follow the expected script. Egypt dominated possession from the outset but were caught cold by a swift Zimbabwe counter-attack. Emmanuel Jalai's cross from the right found Dube, whose excellent turn and finish from the edge of the box gave the Warriors a shock lead.
Egypt's pressure was relentless but initially fruitless, with Salah himself creating several first-half chances. The introduction of striker Mostafa Mohamed before half-time signalled a tactical shift from coach Hossam Hassan. The breakthrough finally came through Marmoush, who collected the ball on the left flank, raced past Godknows Murwira, and finished powerfully from a tight angle.
Redemption and Resolution for Salah
This tournament represents a chance for personal and national redemption for Mohamed Salah. Having lost in two previous Afcon finals (2017 and 2022), the one major honour missing from his illustrious career is a winner's medal from this competition.
His commitment to the cause this time appears absolute, a contrast to the last edition where an injury and subsequent early return to Liverpool drew criticism from some quarters. Coach Hossam Hassan noted that Salah "regains his strength with the national team," a sentiment he proved with his decisive late contribution in front of a sparse crowd at the Grand Stade d'Agadir.
The win provides a crucial start for Egypt in their quest for an eighth title, while Zimbabwe, who have never progressed beyond the group stages, were left heartbroken after a brave and disciplined performance.
