Afcon roundup: Mohamed Salah strikes again as 10-man Egypt hold off South Africa

Salah penalty gives Egypt second win in two.

ON THE SPOT: Egypt's Mohamed Salah is challenged by South Africa's Teboho Mokoena in Agadir, Morocco. The Liverpool star scored a penalty kick. Pic: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe

Mohamed Salah scored a first-half penalty as 10-man Egypt defeated South Africa 1-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash in Agadir on Friday to become the first team into the knockout stages of the competition.

Egypt have six points from their opening two games and cannot finish outside of the top two in the group. South Africa have three points from their two games, while Zimbabwe and Angola have one each after they drew 1-1 earlier in the day.

Salah won the penalty when he was clipped in the face by South Africa defender Khuliso Mudau as they tussled for the ball in the box, and stepped up to easily convert for his second goal of the tournament.

Egypt lost right-back Mohamed Hany to a red card for an ugly stamp at the end of the first half and faced wave after wave of South African attacks in the second period, as the latter were denied a penalty of their own for handball following a lengthy VAR check.

Angola and Zimbabwe each earned their first point at the tournament following a 1-1 draw but the result leaves both facing early elimination. They both lost their opening Group B clashes and are now left with difficult assignments in their last matches next week which they will effectively need to win if they are to progress.

Angola went ahead in the 24th minute when To Carneiro’s chipped pass fell perfectly for striker Gelson Dala, who ran onto it and squeezed the ball in at the near post as Zimbabwe’s defence proved too slow in closing down.

There was a lengthy delay soon after as Angola goalkeeper Hugo Marques suffered a cut above his eye after a clash of heads with Zimbabwe’s Divine Lunga.

He was bandaged up and continued but in the sixth minute of stoppage time at the end of the first he was beaten as Zimbabwe’s veteran striker Knowledge Musona equalised.

Angola defender David Carmo cleared off the line twice in the space of a minute on the cusp of the final 10 minutes, first when Zimbabwe substitute Tawanda Chirewa had his shot stopped by Hugo Marques, with the ball spinning back towards goal before being cleared.

From the resultant corner, Carmo was there again to deny Gerald Takwara at the back post with a timely interception.

Angola now go up against group top seeds Egypt in Agadir on Monday while Zimbabwe take on neighbours South Africa in Marrakech at the same time.