Mohamed Salah delivered when it mattered most, scoring a stoppage-time winner to spare Egypt’s blushes and secure a dramatic 2-1 victory over a courageous Zimbabwe side in their Africa Cup of Nations opener in Agadir on Monday evening.
The Liverpool star’s bobbled shot beat 40-year-old Washington Arubi in added time, his 35th attempt of the match compared to Zimbabwe’s eight, finally breaking the Warriors’ resistance after they had threatened one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
Omar Marmoush’s 64th-minute equaliser had drawn Egypt level after Prince Dube’s stunning 20th-minute opener, but it took Salah’s moment of brilliance deep into injury time to complete the comeback and give the seven-time champions a winning start to their Group B campaign.
For Egypt, the victory was relief more than celebration. Dominant in possession and territorial advantage, they created chance after chance but were left frustrated by a combination of wasteful finishing and Arubi’s inspired goalkeeping. The veteran shot-stopper made nine saves throughout the match, defying Egypt’s relentless pressure.
Zimbabwe, ranked 129th in the world, had stunned the favourites early on. Dube took Emmanuel Jalai’s cross with his first touch and turned to flick it past Mohamed El-Shenawy with his next, silencing the Egyptian support and giving the Warriors a precious lead they would protect for over 40 minutes.
Egypt’s frustration was palpable. Salah attempted to rally his teammates, but matters worsened shortly after Zimbabwe’s goal when midfielder Emam Ashour departed injured, his tears suggesting his tournament might be over before it had truly begun. The Manchester City-bound playmaker’s absence disrupted Egypt’s rhythm further.
The Pharaohs laid siege to Zimbabwe’s goal throughout the remainder of the first half. Arubi tipped over a fierce strike from Marmoush, whilst Trézéguet was booked for simulation when attempting to win a penalty. Salah, Marmoush and Mostafa Mohamed all had efforts blocked before the interval, but Zimbabwe held firm to take their shock lead into the break.
Egypt manager Hossam Hassan clearly delivered stern words during the interval, and his side emerged with renewed intensity. The pressure finally told in the 64th minute when Marmoush, who has been in sensational form for Manchester City, found the breakthrough. The forward capitalised on space afforded to him by Zimbabwe’s tiring defenders, firing past Arubi to level the contest.
The goal sparked Egyptian hopes of a comfortable victory, but Zimbabwe refused to wilt. The Warriors continued to defend with organisation and discipline, throwing bodies in front of shots and making crucial interceptions. Arubi remained inspired between the posts, producing save after save to keep his side in the match.
As the clock ticked towards full-time, Egypt’s anxiety grew. The seven-time champions had endured a frustrating World Cup qualifying campaign despite ultimately securing their place at the 2026 tournament, and the prospect of dropping points to Zimbabwe in their opener would have represented another significant setback.
But champions find ways to win, and Egypt possess one of Africa’s greatest-ever players. Deep into stoppage time, Salah received possession and fashioned space for a shot. His effort bobbled towards goal, catching Arubi slightly off-balance, and nestled into the net to spark wild celebrations amongst the Egyptian players and supporters.
It was Salah’s first start in four matches, having been left out of Liverpool’s squad for their Champions League fixture against Inter Milan amid reported tensions with manager Arne Slot. The 33-year-old forward had suggested in interviews that he felt Liverpool had blamed him for the club’s early-season struggles, creating an uncomfortable situation between player and manager.
But such controversies matter little when representing your country at the continent’s premier tournament. Salah is chasing the one major honour that has eluded him throughout his glittering career. He has reached two AFCON finals, in 2017 and 2021, losing both. With Egypt already qualified for the World Cup, this tournament represents perhaps his final realistic opportunity to secure the trophy that would cement his status as Egypt’s greatest-ever footballer.
The victory, whilst dramatic, will concern Hassan. Egypt’s wastefulness in front of goal could prove costly against stronger opposition. They registered 35 shots, with 10 on target, yet required until the final moments to break down a team ranked over 100 places below them in FIFA’s rankings.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, can take enormous pride from their performance. Coach Jairos Tapera has inherited a difficult job, with the Warriors having endured a miserable run of form throughout 2024. They failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, finishing last in their qualifying group without a single victory.
Their recent friendly matches offered little encouragement, suffering a 3-1 defeat to Algeria before defeating Qatar 2-1 in November. Few gave them any chance against Egypt, yet they came within minutes of claiming a famous result.
Dube’s goal was his second in international football, whilst Arubi’s performance at 40 years of age was nothing short of heroic. The goalkeeper has enjoyed a long career in Zimbabwean football, and his display in Agadir will be remembered as one of the finest by a Zimbabwean player at the AFCON finals.
For Egypt, the three points place them level with South Africa atop Group B following Bafana Bafana’s 2-1 victory over Angola earlier in the day. The Pharaohs face South Africa on Boxing Day in what promises to be the group’s defining fixture, whilst Zimbabwe take on Angola seeking their first points.
Hassan will be relieved to have secured victory, but he knows improvements are essential. Egypt possess quality throughout their squad, with Marmoush’s form for Manchester City making him one of Africa’s most dangerous attackers, whilst Mohamed provides a proven goalscoring threat from the striker position.
The Pharaohs’ squad also includes experienced defenders such as Yasser Ibrahim and Hossam Abdelmaguid, alongside talented midfielders like Marwan Attia and Hamdi Fathi. On paper, they possess one of the tournament’s strongest sides.
Yet football is not played on paper. Zimbabwe demonstrated that organisation, discipline and heart can trouble even the most talented opposition. Egypt will need to show greater composure and clinical finishing if they are to challenge for the trophy.
The match was played at Le Grand Stade Agadir, one of nine venues hosting matches throughout the tournament. The stadium, inaugurated in 2013, holds nearly 42,000 spectators and will also host fixtures during the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host alongside Spain and Portugal.
The atmosphere inside the ground reflected Egypt’s dominance, with their supporters growing increasingly anxious as Zimbabwe clung to their lead. When Salah’s winner hit the net, the relief and joy were palpable.
For Salah, it was another reminder of his clutch mentality. Throughout his career, the forward has delivered in the biggest moments. His goals have won trophies for Liverpool, secured crucial victories for Egypt, and now opened their AFCON 2025 campaign with three precious points.
Egypt’s history at this tournament is unmatched. Their seven titles place them ahead of all other nations, with their most recent success coming in 2010 when they completed an unprecedented hat-trick of consecutive championships. Salah, then just 18 years old, was learning his trade at Egyptian club Al-Mokawloon.
Fifteen years later, he carries the weight of a nation’s expectations on his shoulders. One match down, potentially six to go if Egypt are to reach the final on 18 January. The journey has begun, and whilst the opening steps were far from comfortable, Salah ensured they were successful.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, must regroup quickly. Their next fixture against Angola on Boxing Day offers an opportunity to claim the points that slipped through their fingers in Agadir. They proved they belong at this level, and whilst defeat is disappointing, the manner of their performance suggests they will trouble other opponents in Group B.
Match details
Egypt: El-Shenawy, Hany, Ibrahim, Abdelmaguid, Hamdi, Fathi, Attia, Ashour (Rabia 23′), Salah (c), Marmoush, Trézéguet
Zimbabwe: Arubi, Hadebe, Takwara, Garananga, Murwira, Nakamba (c), Jalai, Fabisch, Msendami, Dube, Navaya
