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Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe: The Pharaohs were frustrated for long spells by Zimbabwe but Salah’s stoppage-time winner sealed a comeback victory
Mark Gleeson Monday 22 December 2025 23:02 GMT- Bookmark
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open image in gallery(AFP via Getty Images)
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Mohamed Salah snatched a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Egypt came from behind to beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in their first fixture at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Monday.
The Egypt captain, starting his first game after four successive matches on the bench at Liverpool, fired home a left-footed effort in the 91st minute to earn the seven-times champions a late victory after Zimbabwe had stunned them by going ahead in the first half.
Egypt laid siege to Zimbabwe’s goal from the start, but it was the underdogs who netted first through Prince Dube in the 20th minute.
It was left to Egypt’s Premier League contingent of Omar Marmoush, who equalised in the 64th minute, and talisman Salah to see them to a last-gasp victory.
Salah had come into the tournament in Morocco under the spotlight following a fiery outburst after being dropped by the Premier League champions, and struggled to find his rhythm for most of the match at the Grande Stade d’Agadir.
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When it counted, however, he swept home the winner to see Egypt join South Africa, who beat Angola 2-1 earlier in Marrakech, at the top of Group B.
It was as much as Egypt deserved, breaking a run of six successive draws over the last two editions of the Cup of Nations.
open image in galleryPrince Dube scored for Zimbabwe against the run of play (AFP via Getty Images)
open image in galleryMarmoush netted the equaliser in the second half (AFP via Getty Images)They had four good chances in the opening 10 minutes as they put Zimbabwe under intense pressure but fell behind when Emmanuel Jalai fed the ball inside for Dube, who turned in possession and placed his effort into the bottom left corner.
It could have been 2-0 as Daniel Msendami’s pace set up a scrambled chance for Washington Navaya that Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy managed to gather before it could be bundled over the line.
Marmoush equalised in the 64th minute, picking up a long pass on the left wing before cutting inside and firing home with his right foot from an acute angle for a superb solo goal.
"We created many chances without being able to score early, but in the end everything went well," Marmoush said.
"We kept a good mindset and finished the match strongly. We will learn from everything that happened in tonight’s game.”
open image in gallerySalah had been kept quiet for much of the game but produced some magic when it mattered (AFP via Getty Images)Substitute Ahmed Zizo should have headed home at the back post from Mohamed Hamdy’s inviting cross but put his effort wide, and missed again four minutes from the end when Salah teed him up with a good chance.
It was left to Salah to secure the three points, holding off his marker to bring the ball under control before steering it home.
In the next set of Group B fixtures, Egypt meet South Africa in Agadir on Boxing Day while Zimbabwe and Angola clash on Friday in Marrakech.
Reuters
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