What's happened
Mohamed Salah scored in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory for Egypt over Zimbabwe in their Africa Cup of Nations opener in Agadir. Despite recent controversy at Liverpool, Salah's decisive goal helped Egypt earn three points, with Zimbabwe's goalkeeper Washington Arubi impressing. The match was tightly contested, with Zimbabwe leading early before Egypt equalized and Salah's late winner.
What's behind the headline?
Salah's decisive goal underscores his importance to Egypt despite recent club controversies. The match highlights Zimbabwe's resilience and defensive organization, which kept Egypt at bay for much of the game. The late winner demonstrates how individual brilliance can turn the tide in tightly contested tournaments. Egypt's victory sets a positive tone for their campaign, but their reliance on Salah's late heroics suggests vulnerabilities. Zimbabwe's performance, especially goalkeeper Arubi's, indicates they could challenge stronger teams if they maintain this level of organization. The match also reflects the broader narrative of African teams balancing club commitments with national duty, impacting player performance and team cohesion.
What the papers say
The New Arab reports Salah's late goal secured Egypt's win, emphasizing his importance despite recent club issues. France 24 highlights Zimbabwe's stubborn defending and goalkeeper Arubi's standout performance, which kept the game competitive. Both sources agree on the tight contest and the significance of Salah's contribution, but differ in focus—one on Egypt's victory, the other on Zimbabwe's resilience. The articles together paint a picture of a competitive, unpredictable tournament where individual moments can decide outcomes, and underdog teams like Zimbabwe can challenge favorites with disciplined defense and goalkeeping heroics.
How we got here
Egypt, a seven-time AFCON champion, faced Zimbabwe in their first group match. Salah, captaining Egypt for the first time in nearly a month, returned to the starting lineup after a period of absence from Liverpool. Zimbabwe's strong defensive performance and goalkeeper Washington Arubi's heroics kept the game close, with Zimbabwe taking an early lead before Egypt equalized and ultimately secured victory with Salah's goal.
Go deeper
- What does Salah's performance say about his current form?
- How might Zimbabwe's goalkeeper Arubi influence future matches?
- What are Egypt's prospects after this narrow win?
Common question
-
What Happened in Egypt’s Match Against Zimbabwe at AFCON 2025?
Egypt's opening game at AFCON 2025 was a thrilling contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Mohamed Salah scored a dramatic late winner to secure a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe, highlighting Egypt's resilience and determination. But what exactly unfolded during this match? How did Salah perform, and what does this result mean for Egypt's tournament hopes? Below, we answer the most common questions about this exciting game and what it means for the competition.
More on these topics
-
Patson Daka is a Zambian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Leicester City and the Zambia national team.
-
Lyle Brent Foster is a South African professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Burnley and the South Africa national team.
-
Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the Egypt national team.
-
Omar Khaled Mohamed Abd Elsala Marmoush is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart, on loan from VfL Wolfsburg, and the Egypt national team.