Salah Sets National Record as Egypt Rout Malawi in AFCON Qualifiers

Mohamed Salah established himself as Egypt’s all-time leading scorer on Friday, reaching 70 international goals during a decisive victory against Malawi. The former Liverpool star, who is 34 years old, scored twice in the 5-0 win to surpass the previous record held by Hossam Hassan. This milestone was achieved in a match played in Cairo that solidified Egypt's strong position in their Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign.

Salah’s record-breaking performance came late in the game. He opened with a header from the far post in the 84th minute and added a penalty kick five minutes into stoppage time. These goals completed a dominant display for the Pharaohs, who had already secured a comfortable lead before the final stretch of the match.

The Egyptian side, now managed by Ali Maher following Hossam Hassan’s departure last week, showcased their depth with early goals from Nasser Maher, Omar Marmoush, and Mohamed Hany. These strikes built a 3-0 advantage by the halftime break, allowing the team to control the remainder of the contest with ease.

With this win, Egypt has accumulated seven points in Group B after three matches. They currently lead the group by three points over Angola, which is scheduled to host South Sudan on Saturday. The result further cements their status as strong contenders for the upcoming continental tournament.

In other Group A action, Morocco maintained their lead with a 5-1 victory over Niger in Casablanca. Achraf Hakimi, who is widely considered a favorite for the African Footballer of the Year award next month, scored two goals in the match. His performance highlighted Morocco’s attacking prowess as they continue to dominate their qualifying group.

Nigeria also secured a vital 3-1 win over Tanzania in Uyo, bringing their campaign back on track. Substitute Tolu Arokodaro was the star of the show, scoring twice within eight minutes of entering the field. The Ajax forward’s near-post back heel and a close-range finish helped the Super Eagles extend their lead and secure the points.

Alhassan Yusuf had initially put Nigeria ahead after just 103 seconds, though Alphonce Msanga equalized for Tanzania in the 32nd minute. However, Arokodaro’s second-half impact proved decisive. The victory moves Nigeria to six points in Group L, placing them one point behind leaders Guinea-Bissau, who drew 1-1 with Madagascar earlier in the week.

Tunisia suffered a significant setback as they fell 2-0 at home to Libya. The result leaves the Tunisians at the bottom of Group H with only two points, threatening their record of appearing at every AFCON tournament since 1994. Ali Youssef scored a penalty for Libya in the 44th minute, while Hamdou Elhouni added a second goal in the 62nd minute to seal the shock upset.

The defeat moves Libya up to share the lead in their group with Uganda on four points. Tunisia’s situation is complicated by the fact that their remaining three fixtures are all away matches after a recent venue change. They will need to perform well on the road to keep their qualification hopes alive.

In Group D, Kenya snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw away to South Africa with a stoppage-time goal. Ryan Ogam’s strike in the final minute of regular time denied the hosts a victory. The match pitted two South African coaches against each other, with Benni McCarthy’s side ultimately securing a valuable point on the road.