Mohamed Salah scored an injury-time winner as Egypt came from behind to launch their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a hard-earned 2-1 win over Zimbabwe.
The Liverpool forward was the hero for the Pharaohs after Omar Marmoush canceled out Prince Dube’s first half in the Group B match in Agadir.
Zimbabwe, who never progressed beyond the group stages of the competition, took a surprise lead in the 20th minute, with Dube controlling Emmanuel Jalai’s cross and heading home.
Egypt survived a scare shortly afterwards when Washington almost turned Navaya into an empty net, while Washington Arubi twice denied Marmoush at the other end.
However, the Manchester City striker matched the seven-time champions in the 63rd minute, cutting inside from the left and firing into the roof of the net.
Egyptian substitute Zizo squandered a golden opportunity when he nodded from four yards out ten minutes later.
Yet Salah controlled a ball in the penalty area in the first minute of stoppage time before beating Arubi on the turn to ensure a winning start for Egypt.
#egyptent pic.twitter.com/gLVOpIAlHi
— Egypt National Team (@EgyptNT_EN) December 22, 2025
Data debrief: Zimbabwe sets an unwanted record
Egypt have been to the Africa Cup of Nations for a record 27th time and are now undefeated in the last eleven matches of the tournament.
The Pharaohs have won all three of their meetings with Zimbabwe in the competition, having also had the upper hand in the 2004 and 2019 clashes.
Zimbabwe have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their 16 Africa Cup of Nations matches, the longest streak of any team in the tournament.
And although Salah has had a difficult season at Liverpool, he is still undoubtedly Egypt’s most important man. He had a team-leading four shots and also created six chances.
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