RABAT, Morocco (AP) – Mohamed Salah scored late in a 2-1 win over Zimbabwe on Monday to give Egypt a win at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah, who was making his first start in about a month and captaining the team, fired a shot into the bottom corner of the goal in stoppage time to avoid embarrassing Egypt against a team ranked 129th in the world.
Egypt, who have won a record seven times, were thwarted for long periods in the coastal city of Agadir by Zimbabwe’s stubborn defense and an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Washington Albi.
Egypt coach: “We wasted several chances to score and we weren’t lucky” Hossam Hassan Said. “That’s soccer. We were the better team the entire game. Opening games are always difficult.”
Prince Dube surprised the title favorites in the 20th minute by receiving Emmanuel Jarai’s cross with his first touch, spinning around the defender and flicking it past Egyptian keeper Mohamed El-Shenawy with his next touch.
Salah tried to anger his teammates. They kept missing opportunities. Hassan hooked Imam Ashour in the 33rd, leaving the midfielder in tears on the bench.
Albi overturned Marmouche’s fierce attack and Trezeguet was booked for diving to win a penalty, then Salah, Marmouche and Mostafa Mohamed, who replaced the ineffective Ashour, all had shots blocked before the break.
The match then resumed in the same manner, and in the 64th, Marmouche found a way to score from a difficult angle.
Salah’s winner gave the Pharaohs three points in Group B. The Liverpool star has never won Africa’s top competition. This is his 5th edition.
South Africa also won
In the other group match, Lyle Foster led South Africa to a 2-1 victory against Angola.
Bafana Bafana ended a six-game winning streak against Angola, which had seen three wins and three draws since the World Cup qualifiers in November 2015.
In Marrakech, South Africa’s Oswin Apolis took the lead in the 21st minute with a low shot inside the left post, but midfielder Shaw equalized minutes later when Freddie’s free kick from the wing was deflected inside the near post.
Before the break, he felt unsteady after being fouled by South Africa’s Aubrey Modiba.
Tshepang Moremi thought he had scored a great goal afterwards. The goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review, and as South Africa continued to press, Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s powerful strike hit the crossbar.
Angola coach Patrice Baumel revamped his attacking line by bringing on Mablelu and Milson in the 76th minute, but it was Foster who scored at the other end in the 79th minute, curling the ball over the outstretched arm of Hugo Marquez.
Mari was annoyed
2012 champions Zambia emerged victorious from an early 1-1 draw against Mali in Casablanca with Patson Daka scoring in stoppage time.
Mali dominated the game, but Willard Mwanza missed a penalty before the break by saving a shot from El Villar Toure. This was his second penalty save in this tournament.
Racing Sinayoko finally broke the deadlock after the hour mark, but it was Daka’s header that had the final say, giving Zambia a point in Group A.
Host country Morocco are leading the group with three points in the opening game. 2-0 victory over Comoros on sunday.
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Associated Press on Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
