Representative photo · Photo: Crosskimo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Mohamed Salah set a new scoring record for Egypt in a 5-0 win over Malawi, while Tunisia faced a surprise 2-0 home loss against Libya in AFCON qualifying action.
Mohamed Salah has etched his name into history as the leading goalscorer for his nation. During a commanding 5-0 victory for Egypt over Malawi in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Friday, the Egyptian King scored twice to reach a career total of 70 international goals. This achievement allowed him to surpass the previous record held by former captain Hossam Hassan. The 34-year-old forward secured his place in the record books with a header at the far post in the 84th minute, followed by a penalty kick deep into stoppage time.
Under the guidance of new coach Ali Maher, Egypt dominated the match from the start. Nasser Maher, Omar Marmoush, and Mohamed Hany provided a comfortable 3-0 lead by halftime. The result places Egypt at the top of Group B with seven points after three matches. Elsewhere in the continent, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi netted two goals in a 5-1 thrashing of Niger, while Nigeria’s Tolu Arokodaro made a significant impact off the bench. Arokodaro scored twice in eight minutes to help Nigeria secure a 3-1 win over Tanzania in Uyo, keeping their qualification hopes alive.
Mohamed Salah became Egypt’s all-time leading scorer with 70 goals during a 5-0 win against Malawi.
While some teams celebrated, others faced adversity. Tunisia, a side that has qualified for every tournament since 1994, suffered a disappointing 2-0 loss at home to Libya. Ali Youssef opened the scoring with a penalty, and Hamdou Elhouni added a second goal in the 62nd minute. This result leaves Tunisia at the bottom of Group H with only two points, complicating their path to the tournament. The match between South Africa and Kenya ended in a 2-2 draw, with Ryan Ogam scoring a last-minute equalizer for Kenya. Despite the draw, South Africa remains at the top of their group with seven points.
The qualification campaign is critical for teams aiming to secure a spot in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. For Egypt, Salah’s record-breaking performance provides momentum, while Tunisia’s struggles highlight the volatility of the qualifying rounds as they face an uphill battle with their remaining matches scheduled away from home.
