AFCON 2025: Mo Salah And Omar Marmoush Help Egypt To Stage A Comeback Win

After the previous result in the first match of group B, it was time for one of the tournament favorite at the ongoing AFCON to play their opening game and for Egypt, they had to show strength and resilience to come back from a goal down to get the win against Zimbabwe.

More Details

After trailing for much of the first half and few minutes into the second half, it required two goals from their English Premier league players, Omar Marmoush and a Mohamed Salah winner to rescue a victory for Egypt from what would have been a shocking result.

LATEST POSTS

Despite facing a seven time winner of the tournament and one of the clear favorites alongside the host, Morocco, Zimbabwe showed no fear as for 19 minutes, they dominated the game while Salah was the main driving for the Pharaohs but they met a brick wall.

The Liverpool forward twice curled a teasing cross to the far post, and on the first occasion, Trézéguet’s header had to be tipped onto the bar by Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi. Five minutes later and Salah’s repeat performance found Emam Ashour unmarked, but the midfielder’s volley was wayward.

They were left to rue these missed chances as in what would be the opponent’s first real chance going forward, Zimbabwe took the lead as Prince Dube stunned the Egyptians in the 20th minute. He excellently controlled Emmanuel Jalai’s ball into the box and tucked the ball beyond Ahmed El Shenawy to give his side the lead.

The Pharaohs tried to respond almost immediately with lots of attacks but they couldn’t find the breakthrough in the first half as Marmoush’s thunderbolt from long range forced Arubi to tip the ball over his bar, while Salah blasted over from the edge of the box on the stroke of half time.

Egypt’s complete dominance of proceedings in the second half eventually led to an equaliser, and when it came, it was very simple. A long ball released the Manchester City forward down the left wing, and he breezed goalwards and lashed his strike into the roof of the net.

Notwithstanding, the Warriors were resolute in their defending as even a draw would be a great result for them but second half substitute, Zizo squandered Egypt’s best chance of the closing stages, as he planted his header a long way over after being found by a delicious Mohamed Hamdy cross.

Read Also: Cristian Chivu Expresses Dissatisfaction With His Players Despite Statement Win Over Como

Wasteful efforts from the normally-reliant Salah and Marmoush seemed to have ended Egypt’s hopes of making a winning start, until the Liverpool forward fired home from 10 yards in stoppage time to deny Zimbabwe a historic point and get them back on the winning train, just like South Africa with similar scoreline.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube

Do you have a story tip?
Kindly Email: keepup@bettitude.com