Mohamed Salah started for Egypt against Zimbabwe in their Africa Cup of Nations opener and plenty of Liverpool fans will have been keeping an eye on their star man
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was at the centre of the action as Egypt began their Africa Cup of Nations campaign against Zimbabwe on Monday night. The favourites made it hard for themselves despite a dominant display, but Salah grabbed a late winner as they came from behind to win 2-1
Salah’s future has been the topic of plenty of debate after a spell out of the Liverpool first team. He spoke of being thrown under the bus after the early December draw at Leeds and was left out entirely as Arne Slot’s side beat Inter Milan in the Champions League, but returned to action against Brighton before linking up with his national side.
Since Salah jetted off to Morocco for AFCON, Liverpool’s situation has been complicated by an injury to record signing Alexander Isak which requires surgery. The blow is expected to mean Salah stays put, at least until the end of the season, though there is interest from Saudi Arabia and beyond.
For now, his focus is Egypt. The Pharaohs headed to Morocco as one of the pre-tournament favourites but found things tougher than anticipated against a Zimbabwe side ranked 129th in the world.
Prince Dube scored with Zimbabwe’s first big chance of the game, and a determined rearguard effort kept Egypt at bay for more than an hour. Zimbabwe’s luck eventually ran out, though, with Omar Marmoush smashing home a leveller.
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It took less than 10 minutes for Salah to get the crowd on their feet. He found space down the Egypt right and sent a teasing ball to the back post where former Aston Villa star Trezeguet’s header was clawed off the line by Zimbabwe keeper Washington Arubi.
Barely a minute later, a defensive lapse almost gave the Liverpool man a sight of goal but the underdogs got bodies in the way of his shot. He was a clear threat, though, with another pinpoint ball from the right channel volleyed wide by Emam Ashour.
Salah was more provider than finisher in the first half and next it was time for Marmoush to go close, racing onto an outside-of-the-boot Salah pass but getting his angles wrong. By this point, Egypt were trailing through Dube’s effort and – while attacking with purpose – continued to leave themselves open on the counter.
While Salah himself offered plenty, Egypt’s manager Hossam Hassan was less happy with his team as a whole. Ashour was sacrificed before half-time, with Mostafa Mohamed introduced to provide more of a focal point up front.
There was no danger of Salah making an early exit, though, and he tried to do it all himself late in the first half. Once again, though, Zimbabwe snuffed out the threat just as he looked to have found an opening.
Egypt continued to dominate possession in the second half but it took them until just after the hour mark to equalise through Manchester City star Marmoush. Salah remained a danger, too, firing in a cross from the right which substitute Mohamed headed over the top.
Egypt and Salah now have a few days off before taking on South Africa in their next group game on Boxing Day. The Bafana Bafana won their opening game against Angola, with Burnley striker Lyle Foster grabbing the winner.
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