Published By Dr talal osman
Mohamed Salah became the first Egyptian player to score in five consecutive editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, after netting a late goal to lead his country to a 2–1 victory over Zimbabwe in the opening match of their campaign at the tournament being held in Morocco.
Salah, who started a match for the first time after sitting on the bench in Liverpool’s previous four games, controlled the ball inside the penalty area and fired a low left-footed shot to give head coach Hossam Hassan’s team a winning start in Group B and write a new record for himself. The Egyptian Football Association said on X: “Our national team captain Mohamed Salah becomes the first Egyptian player to score in five consecutive Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.”
Salah has now scored in the 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025 editions. His goal against Zimbabwe was his eighth in 20 matches at the continental tournament.
The Liverpool striker (33) will also have his sights set on becoming Egypt’s all-time top scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations. Seven-time champions Egypt see Salah just four goals behind former forward Hassan El-Shazly, and three behind his current coach Hassan Hassan, who scored 11 goals in the competition.
El-Shazly, the former Tersana striker, scored 12 goals in 10 matches between 1963 and 1974.
Salah is guaranteed to play at least two more matches in the current tournament, facing South Africa next Friday and Angola on 29 December in the remaining group-stage fixtures before the knockout rounds begin, giving him the chance to add to his tally.
Egypt’s captain is aiming to lift the Africa Cup of Nations trophy and extend the Pharaohs’ record haul, after losing the final twice, in 2017 and 2021.
