Salah scores late winner as Egypt come from behind to beat Zimbabwe

Egypt's forward Mohamed Salah scores the winning goal late in injury time. Picture: FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images

Mohamed Salah snatched a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Egypt came from behind to beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in their first game at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco on Monday.

Egypt’s captain, starting his first game after four successive matches on the bench at Liverpool, fired home a left-footed effort in the 91st minute to earn the seven-times champions a late victory after Zimbabwe had stunned them by going ahead in the first half.

Egypt laid an early siege to Zimbabwe’s goal, but it was the underdogs who netted first through Prince Dube in the 20th minute.

It was left to Egypt’s Premier League contingent of Omar Marmoush, who equalised in the 64th minute, and talisman Salah to see them to a last-gasp victory.

Meanwhile, Lyle Foster scored a superb winner from outside the box as South Africa defeated Angola 2-1 in Africa Cup of Nations Group B in Marrakech on Monday, the first time they have won their opening match at the continental finals in 21 years.

South Africa also had a goal disallowed and struck the crossbar, just about deserving the nervy victory as Angola also had chances and will be disappointed not to have got something from the game.

South Africa took the lead on 21 minutes when Oswin Appollis showed neat footwork in the box to work a shooting chance and put the ball in the bottom corner, but Angola equalised before the break as Show got a touch to Fredy’s free kick to steer the ball into the net.

The winning moment came after 79 minutes when Foster was teed up 20 metres out and curled his shot into the top corner to give the bronze medallists from two years ago a positive start to their campaign.

Elsewhere, Zambia’s Patson Daka scored with a spectacular diving header in stoppage time to see his side come from behind and force a 1-1 draw with Mali in their opening Group A clash at the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Monday.

Mali looked in control for most of the encounter but paid the price for sitting back in the closing stages as Zambia staged a late recovery, with Daka leaping through the air to force home Mathews Banda’s curling cross two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game.