Salah saved egypt from a potential nightmare against minnows mozambique in their dramatic africa cup of nations opener, thanks to mohamed salah’s last-gasp penalty. Mozambique, which is ranked 111nd in the world, has never won an afcon game in their history, while egypt holds the world record for most afcon victories. For so long, it seemed as if mozambique would hold on to win one of the tournament’s most memorable victories, but the spoils were split by a salah penalty in second-half stoppage time. The pharaohs won their first game in less than two minutes, with salah setting up mostafa mohamed to fire them in front. However, mozambique emerged in the second half and after two goals inside three minutes, the game was turned on its head just before the hour mark. salah came up from the penalty spot deep in the 97th minute to rescue a point for his country. His attempt hit the post before finding the net.
Although egypt will be grateful to have their blushes spared, a draw is still a disappointing result for a team that has a chance to win the tournament in the future. Jurgen klopp’s result may well be praiseworthy, as the liverpool manager has openly stated that he wants his star players back from international duty as soon as possible. Liverpool will have to keep their title hopes alive without their main man the longer salah is on the ivory coast with egypt. The anfield ace suffered a terribly sad figure at full-time, but klopp will have a smile on his face as a result of the tournament’s success, as the reds boss kept no secret of his hopes for both the afcon and the asia cup, where fellow liverpool player wataru endo will represent japan. “i said, if i wish you good luck, it would be a lie,” klopp told reporters earlier this month. I didn’t do it, of course. From a personal standpoint, i’d be gratified if they went out of the group stage, but it’s probably not possible, and they’d then go out and win it as well. “good luck, see you, and come back strong,” the narrator says. We’ll deal with it and will deal with it. “if egypt were to reach the quarterfinals, liverpool would have to travel to fellow title contenders arsenal in february without their star man.” Salah’s squad will face ghana on thursday night before facing cape verde next monday.
