Mohamed Salah is once again the decisive man for the seven-time African champion.
Superstar Mohamed Salah has prematurely secured the Egyptian national football team’s spot in the round of 16 of the Africa Cup.
The FC Liverpool attacker, whose future at Anfield Road appears uncertain, converted a penalty kick against South Africa in Group B on the second matchday with a Panenka chip into the middle (45th minute) for a 1-0 (1-0) victory, making his team the first to reach the round of 16.
Salah had gone down in the 39th minute after a tackle; Initially, referee Pacifique Ndabihawenimana had not pointed to the spot. Only after a six-minute study of the VAR images was a penalty kick awarded.
Africa Cup: Egypt made to sweat after a sending-off
Salah had already been the match-winner in the difficult 2-1 opening match against outsider Zimbabwe, also in Agadir, Morocco, with his goal in stoppage time.
With these two narrow victories, the seven-time African champion is first in the group with six points before the final duel against the still winless selection of Angola on Monday.
Penalty? Salah and Co. lucky
However, Egypt had to tremble significantly for the victory; after a yellow-red card against Mohamed Hany (45.+2), the North Africans, led by goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, were under constant pressure for a half. Due to being a man down, former Frankfurt goal scorer Omar Marmoush had to make way for a more defensive player at the start of the second half.
In stoppage time, Egypt was also lucky when the referee, after a long review of video footage, refrained from awarding a handball penalty for South Africa.
In the first match on Friday, Zimbabwe, with Auer third-division player Jonah Fabisch, and Angola drew 1-1 (1-1). The Angolans took the lead through Gelson Dala in the 24th minute.
Former Hoffenheim and Augsburg Bundesliga professional Knowledge Musona (45.+6) scored the equalizer. Thus, behind Egypt, all three teams in Group B are still in the race for qualification to the knockout round.