Mohamed Salah once again proved decisive for Egypt, scoring in the first minute of stoppage time to complete a 2-1 comeback victory over Zimbabwe in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B opener at Stade Adrar.

The seven-time champions avoided what would have been a shock upset, thanks to the Liverpool star’s trademark composure in front of goal.

The Pharaohs were stunned in the 20th minute when Prince Dube punished defensive hesitation to give the Warriors a deserved halftime lead. Egypt struggled to break down Zimbabwe’s organized defense until the 64th minute, when Omar Marmoush cut inside and unleashed a powerful strike past veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi to level the score.

Arubi was outstanding throughout, producing several crucial saves—including denying Salah twice—to keep Zimbabwe in contention deep into added time. But Salah, ever the talisman, latched onto a loose ball in the box in the 90+1st minute and calmly slotted home, sparking wild celebrations among teammates and fans.

After the match, Salah and Marmoush shared a jubilant selfie in matching red hoodies, a moment that quickly went viral as supporters hailed Salah’s “magic.” Coach Hossam Hassan praised his side’s resilience, noting the difficulty of breaking down a disciplined opponent. Zimbabwe’s coach Marian Marinica expressed disappointment at missed opportunities but took pride in his team’s competitiveness.

The victory gives Egypt three points in Group B, placing them second behind South Africa, who had beaten Angola 2 - 1 in a previous encounter.