Mohamed Salah has won everything there is to win at club level. Premier League titles. Champions League trophies. Golden Boots. But one prize has always slipped through his fingers. The Africa Cup of Nations. And for 90 minutes in Agadir, it looked like that wait might stretch on even longer.
Egypt eventually beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in their AFCON 2025 opener, but the seven-time champions needed a stoppage-time winner from their talismanic forward to avoid a damaging draw. It was a performance that will worry manager Hossam Hassan, with his team guilty of missing chance after chance before Salah popped up when it mattered most.
For Zimbabwe, it was heartbreak. They came to Morocco with little expectation but left with nothing to show for a heroic defensive effort that deserved at least a point.
Egypt Dominate But Cannot Find the Net
From the first whistle, Egypt looked like the better team. They passed the ball with confidence, created openings at will, and pinned Zimbabwe deep inside their own half. The problem? They could not finish.
Salah was at the heart of everything good for the Pharaohs. The Liverpool star floated two inviting crosses to the far post in the opening 20 minutes, but his teammates let him down. Trezeguet got his head to one of them, only to see 40-year-old goalkeeper Washington Arubi palm it onto the underside of the crossbar.
Omar Marmoush, the Manchester City striker, was also causing problems. He unleashed a long-range rocket that had Arubi scrambling to tip it over the bar. Minutes later, he found himself in a great position on the edge of the area but blazed his shot too high.
Egypt were knocking on the door. It felt like only a matter of time before they would score. But football has a funny way of punishing teams who do not take their chances.
Prince Dube Stuns Egypt
Against the run of play, Zimbabwe took the lead in the 20th minute. And what a goal it was.
A cross came in from the right side, and Prince Dube did brilliantly to control it while simultaneously spinning inside the box. In one smooth movement, the rangy midfielder turned to face goal and side-footed the ball home with his left foot. It was a moment of pure class from a player who showed exactly why he earned his call-up to the national team.
The Zimbabwe fans inside the stadium went wild. Their team had barely touched the ball, but suddenly they were 1-0 up against one of the tournament favorites.
Egypt pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but the half ended with Zimbabwe still in front. The Warriors had defended heroically, with Arubi pulling off save after save to keep his team ahead. At 40 years old, the veteran goalkeeper was rolling back the years.
Marmoush Levels the Score
Egypt came out for the second half with renewed purpose. They needed a goal, and they needed it fast.
The chances kept coming. Zimbabwe spent almost the entire second period defending, barely able to get out of their own half. Striker Macauley Bonne, who plays in England’s eighth tier for Maldon and Tiptree, was left to battle alone up front with no support. It was backs-to-the-wall stuff from the Warriors.
But in the 64th minute, Egypt finally found a way through. Marmoush picked up the ball on the left flank, drove toward goal, and smashed a powerful shot high into the roof of the net from a tight angle. Arubi had no chance. The Manchester City man had been threatening all game, and now he had his reward.
The stadium erupted. Egypt were level, and surely the winner was coming.
Zimbabwe Dream of Historic Result
Despite falling behind in the tie, Zimbabwe refused to give up. They continued to defend with everything they had, throwing bodies in the way of shots and clearing crosses out of the danger zone.
As the minutes ticked away, a draw started to look possible. Zimbabwe had never kept a clean sheet at an Africa Cup of Nations in their entire history. They were not going to manage that feat today, but leaving Agadir with a point against the seven-time champions would have been a remarkable achievement.
Egypt kept pushing. Zizo missed a good opportunity. Salah had a chance of his own but could not convert. The finishing that had plagued the Pharaohs all night was still letting them down.
Inside the stadium, the atmosphere started to dip. Fans began to accept that a draw was the most likely outcome. Egypt had dominated but simply could not find that killer touch.
Salah Delivers When It Matters Most
Then, in the 91st minute, Mohamed Salah reminded everyone why he is one of the best players on the planet.
A loose ball fell to him inside the penalty area. A Zimbabwe defender tried to close him down, but Salah showed incredible strength to hold off his man. With the goalkeeper at his mercy, the Liverpool star poked the ball inside Arubi’s left post.
Goal. Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe. Game over.
Salah wheeled away in celebration as his teammates mobbed him. The relief on his face was obvious. This was not a pretty victory, but it was three points all the same.
For Zimbabwe, it was devastating. They had given everything for 90 minutes and came away with nothing. Football can be cruel sometimes, and this was one of those moments.
What This Means for Both Teams
Egypt got the result they needed, but the performance will concern their coaching staff. They created enough chances to win three or four games but needed a stoppage-time goal to beat a team ranked far below them. If they want to challenge for the title, they need to be more clinical in front of goal.
For Salah personally, the chase for AFCON glory continues. The 33-year-old has lost two previous finals with Egypt and knows his chances to win this trophy are running out. Playing on North African soil in Morocco will help, but he cannot do it alone. His teammates need to step up.
Zimbabwe will be disappointed but can hold their heads high. They competed bravely and were minutes away from a famous result. Their next match is against Angola in Marrakesh, and they will fancy their chances of picking up points there.
Egypt face South Africa in Agadir on Friday in what promises to be a much tougher test. If they play like they did against Zimbabwe, they could be in trouble.
The Pharaohs have their three points. But they know there is serious work to do.
