Salah grabs stoppage-time victor for Egypt following Zimbabwe fright
Mohamed Salah netted in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win for the seven-time title holders Egypt against lower-ranked Zimbabwe in a gripping Africa Cup of Nations Group B encounter in Agadir on Monday.
Salah arrived in Morocco without featuring in Liverpool's last five outings, a situation that sparked criticism from him towards coach Arne Slot.
His shaky position at Anfield was set aside as he capitalised on a stray ball in the penalty area and slotted past 40-year-old Zimbabwe custodian Washington Arubi with a precise finish into the bottom corner.
The anticipated easy opener for Egypt in Group B turned tense as Prince Dube put Zimbabwe ahead in the 20th minute, a lead they held until Omar Marmoush levelled the scores in the 63rd minute.
The result puts Egypt on three points alongside South Africa, who overcame Angola 2-1 in Marrakesh earlier in the day.
Egypt pressed hard from the start, pushing all 11 Zimbabwe players back into their own half at the 40,000-capacity venue in the southern seaside town.
Salah whipped in a threatening delivery that came to nothing, followed by a blocked effort from close range as the Pharaohs bombarded the Warriors' goal.
Twenty minutes into the opening period, Zimbabwe hushed the mostly pro-Egypt audience by going in front.
Emmanuel Jalai sent a cross into the area, Dube gained control, spun around and drove a low effort beyond experienced keeper Mohamed El Shenawy into the far corner.
Matters could have worsened for Egypt shortly after when the ball bobbed loose in their six-yard box until El Shenawy claimed it at last.
Egypt's manager and ex-star Hossam Hassan became more agitated along the sideline, bellowing orders.
A glimmer of promise emerged for the past champions when Marmoush timed his run to beat the offside line, yet Arubi rushed from his box, outpaced him to the ball and cleared the danger.
Excellent stop
Marmoush tested the keeper again near the interval with a strike from distance that drew an outstanding fingertip save from Arubi.
As Egyptian impatience mounted, ex-Aston Villa forward Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan went down dramatically in the box and received a yellow card from the Senegalese official.
Salah kept roving and earned a partial opportunity in the extra minutes before the break, but Zimbabwe thwarted his shot.
The second period mirrored the first, featuring constant Egyptian attacks met by valiant Zimbabwe resistance.
Following several almost-scores, Egypt drew level at the 63-minute mark as Marmoush slipped past the backline, collected a pass, surged ahead and rifled the ball home from an acute angle.
Salah faced a defender one-on-one with 12 minutes left in normal time, but his rushed effort sailed high. That paved the way for his late decisive strike.
Prior to the game, Salah appeared unfazed by the doubts over his Liverpool prospects, per Hassan, who triumphed in the AFCON as a player.
"His drive feels extremely high. Salah is a legend and always will be. He ranks among the world's elite players, and I back him fully," Hassan remarked.
Salah sat out Liverpool's previous five fixtures ahead of the AFCON, tensions boiling over after a Premier League stalemate at Leeds United where he accused Slot of undermining him.
This hinted at a potential departure from the struggling champions in the January market.
Salah aims to guide Egypt to an eighth AFCON crown, a trophy he has yet to claim despite reaching the finals with the runners-up squads of 2017 and 2022.