In the AFCON group match, Mohamed Salah secures a tie for Egypt against Mozambique by converting a penalty in the last moments of the game.

Mohamed Salah’s injury-time penalty rescued Egypt from a stunning upset in their Africa Cup of Nations opener against Mozambique. The match started with a bang as Mostafa Mohamed found the back of the net within 90 seconds. However, the underdogs fought back fiercely in the second half, scoring two goals in just four minutes through Witi Quembo and Clesio Bauque.

At that point, it seemed like Mozambique was on the verge of creating one of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition. But fate had other plans. A clumsy challenge from Domingos Macandza on Mohamed went unnoticed by the referee initially. However, after consulting the sideline screen, the official reversed his decision and awarded Egypt a penalty.

Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool star, calmly slotted the ball into the net, off the post, saving Egypt from a humiliating defeat. In the first half, Egypt had dominated the game and could have extended their lead when Mahmoud Trezeguet’s shot hit the post in the 26th minute. But the tide turned dramatically with two fantastic goals from Mozambique.

Witi displayed incredible athleticism as he leapt to head home Macandza’s cross, bringing Mozambique level. Then, substitute Bauque showcased his skills by darting through the heart of Egypt’s defense and striking the ball into the net with style. It would have been a fitting winner for the underdogs.

In the end, however, it was Salah’s penalty that stole the show and salvaged a draw for Egypt. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams displaying moments of brilliance. Egypt will need to regroup and improve their performance in the upcoming matches if they want to make a strong impact in the Africa Cup of Nations.