Salah found the back of the net when it mattered most
On a Monday evening at Stade Adrar in Morocco, Egypt reminded the football world that tournaments are rarely decided by who strikes first, but by who endures longest. Zimbabwe, the underdog, drew first blood through Prince Dube, only to watch Egypt's patience and craft slowly dismantle their lead. In the end, it was Mohamed Salah — as it so often is — who delivered the final, curling word in stoppage time, sending Egypt into second place in Group B with the quiet authority of a team that knows how to suffer before it triumphs.
- Zimbabwe stunned Egypt with a composed Prince Dube finish in the 20th minute, threatening to rewrite the expected script of the match.
- Egypt's early passivity gave way to mounting second-half pressure, as the Pharaohs refused to accept the role of a team in crisis.
- Omar Marmoush broke the deadlock with a controlled, powerful strike after receiving a long ball from Mohamed Hamdi, restoring parity and shifting the psychological weight of the game.
- With the match seemingly drifting toward a draw, Mohamed Salah curled a late stoppage-time goal into the left corner, turning patience into three precious points.
- Egypt now sit second in Group B with momentum, while Zimbabwe are left pointless and facing a steep climb to survive the group stage.
Egypt opened their African Cup of Nations campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory over Zimbabwe at Stade Adrar in Morocco, claiming second place in Group B after a match that tested their composure and resolve.
It was Zimbabwe who set the early tone. Emmanuel Jalai released Prince Dube in the twentieth minute, and Dube finished cleanly to give the underdogs a lead that briefly made the Egyptians look vulnerable. For a time, Zimbabwe's defensive discipline held firm.
The second half, however, belonged to Egypt. Their sustained pressure finally broke through when Omar Marmoush collected a long ball from Mohamed Hamdi, drove into the penalty area, and hammered a shot past the goalkeeper to level the score.
The match's defining moment arrived deep in stoppage time. Mohamed Salah, who had been largely peripheral throughout, curled a precise shot into the left corner of the net, beyond the goalkeeper's reach, to complete the comeback. Egypt walk away with three points and growing confidence; Zimbabwe, meanwhile, begin their group stage journey without a single point to show for their efforts.
Egypt came from behind to defeat Zimbabwe 2-1 on Monday in the opening round of the African Cup of Nations, a match played at Stade Adrar in Morocco. The victory gave the Egyptians their first three points of the tournament and moved them into second place in Group B, while Zimbabwe remained without a point in third.
Zimbabwe struck first. In the twentieth minute of the opening half, Emmanuel Jalai found Prince Dube with a pass, and Dube finished cleanly to put the visitors ahead. It was a promising start for the underdogs, but Egypt would not stay behind for long.
The second half brought a shift in momentum. Egypt began to apply sustained pressure, and their persistence paid off in the eighteenth minute when Omar Marmoush equalized. Marmoush received a long ball from Mohamed Hamdi, controlled it, drove into the penalty area, and struck a powerful shot past the goalkeeper to level the match.
The decisive moment came in stoppage time. At the forty-sixth minute of the second half, Mohamed Salah—who had been largely quiet through much of the contest—found the back of the net. His shot curled into the left corner of the goal, beyond the reach of Zimbabwe's goalkeeper, and sealed Egypt's comeback victory.
The result leaves Egypt in a strong position as the group stage continues. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, faces an uphill climb to advance from the group, having started their campaign without a point on the board.
Citas Notables
Salah, who had been largely quiet through much of the contest, found the back of the net in stoppage time— Match summary
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does a comeback matter so much in a tournament opener? Couldn't Egypt have just won cleanly?
A comeback tells you something about a team's character. Zimbabwe had them beaten. Egypt could have folded, but they didn't. That resilience is what carries teams through tournaments.
Salah was quiet for most of the match, you said. How does a player like that still find the moment?
Experience. He wasn't dominant, but he stayed in position, stayed ready. When the chance came in stoppage time, he was there. That's the difference between a good player and a great one.
Zimbabwe scored first and still lost. Does that change how they approach the next match?
Completely. They showed they can compete—they got a goal against Egypt. But they got nothing for it. Now they're chasing points, and every match becomes urgent.
Second place in the group after one match—is that where Egypt wanted to be?
It's where they needed to be. You don't win tournaments by losing openers. Three points is three points, and momentum matters. They'll take it.