Mohamed Salah, fresh from a period on Liverpool’s bench and facing a storm of controversy, spectacularly silenced his critics on Monday. The Egyptian captain delivered a dramatic stoppage-time winner, leading Egypt to a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Zimbabwe in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opener in Morocco.
The stakes were high for Salah, playing his first match after four successive games out of the starting lineup at his club. Early on, the seven-time AFCON champions were stunned when underdog Zimbabwe’s Prince Dube found the net in the 20th minute, giving them an unexpected lead. Despite Egypt’s relentless pressure and numerous early chances, they struggled to convert, even risking going 2-0 down at one point.
The breakthrough for Egypt finally came in the 64th minute when Omar Marmoush netted a superb solo equalizer, cutting in from the left wing to fire home with precision. The tension mounted as the clock ticked past 90 minutes, with the game seemingly destined for a draw. But then, as he so often does, Salah stepped into the spotlight. Holding off his marker with calm composure, he controlled the ball and swept home a left-footed shot in the 91st minute, sending Egyptian fans into raptures.
This crucial goal not only secured a vital three points but also ended Egypt’s frustrating run of six consecutive draws over the last two AFCON tournaments. Salah’s decisive strike proves that even when under pressure, his ability to deliver match-winning moments remains undeniable. Egypt now sits atop Group B alongside South Africa and will face them next on Boxing Day.
Source: https://turks.us/salah-scores-late-winner-as-egypt-come-from-behind-to-beat-zimbabwe/
