Salah Shines as Egypt Secures Victory; Tunisia Stunned by Comoros

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - African qualifiers - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 6, 2024 Egypt's Mohamed Salah in action REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
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Mohamed Salah played a pivotal role in Egypt’s 2-0 victory over Mauritania, helping his team maintain a perfect record in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. In contrast, Tunisia faced an unexpected setback, suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to Comoros.

In the match held in Cairo, Egypt struggled to penetrate Mauritania’s defense for nearly 70 minutes before Trezeguet scored the opener. Salah then added a second goal, securing all three points and placing Egypt six points clear at the top of Group C at the halfway stage of the qualifiers. Meanwhile, Tunisia, after two initial victories, was heavy favorite but failed to capitalize on 15 goal attempts, with Rafiki Said’s goal past the hour mark sealing their fate.

This defeat marked Tunisia’s first home loss in Cup of Nations qualifying since 2010, although they still lead Group A with six points from three matches. Comoros, now closely trailing with five points, have positioned themselves as serious contenders.

In other matches, Nigeria narrowly defeated Libya 1-0, thanks to a late goal from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, which keeps them atop Group D, five points ahead of third-placed Rwanda. The Super Eagles continue to build momentum as they aim for qualification.

Ivory Coast showcased their dominance with a 4-1 victory over Sierra Leone, featuring a brace from Franck Kessie. Meanwhile, Senegal triumphed 4-0 against 10-man Malawi, with Sadio Mane and Nicolas Jackson finding the net, placing both Senegal and Burkina Faso at the top of their group with seven points.

Cameroon also celebrated a decisive 4-1 win over Kenya, highlighted by Bryan Mbeumo’s goal and contributions from Vincent Aboubakar, Martin Hongla, and Christian Bassogog. South Africa delivered an impressive performance, achieving a 5-0 victory over Congo in Gqeberha, marking one of their largest wins in history. Teboho Mokoena led the charge with two goals, alongside efforts from Bathusi Aubaas, Lyle Foster, and Iqraam Rayners. A win in the upcoming match against the same opponents could secure their qualification.

In other matches, Uganda secured a narrow 1-0 victory over South Sudan, while teams like Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Angola, and Mali also celebrated wins. However, Zambia faced disappointment, held to a surprising 0-0 draw against Chad, leaving them with only four points from their group. As the qualifiers progress, the competition intensifies, with several teams vying for a spot in next year’s finals in Morocco.