MOHAMED Salah emerged as the hero for Egypt on Monday night as the Liverpool forward struck a dramatic stoppage-time winner to give his country a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe in their first fixture at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Egypt’s 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 an early siege to Zimbabwe’s goal, 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.
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 AFCON.
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.
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 for his first goal since early last month.
Earlier, Burnley striker Lyle Foster netted the winning goal in the second half to give South Africa over Angola, while Zambia and Mali played a 1-1 draw in the first fixture of the day.
AFCON RESULTS
Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe
South Africa 2-1 Angola
Mali 1-1 Zambia
With agency report