Mohamed Salah scored twice as Egypt routed Malawi 5-0 on Friday to become his country’s all-time leading scorer with 70 goals.
According to Source 5, the 34-year-old former Liverpool star secured his record late in Cairo by finding the net with an 84th-minute header and a penalty during stoppage time, surpassing Hossam Hassan. The penalty was awarded after Hamza Abdelkarim was tripped in the box, according to Dawn.
The victory marks a successful debut for new coach Ali Maher, who led the Pharaohs to the top of Group B. Egypt now holds seven points after three matches, sitting three points clear of Angola, BBC Sport reported. The win in Cairo followed a 0-0 draw with Angola where Salah was substituted after one hour, and a previous match against South Sudan, according to Dawn.
Maher took over the coaching role after the Egyptian Football Association dismissed Hossam Hassan earlier this month. The association cited issues regarding the stability and image of the national team when announcing the change, according to Maraviexpress.
Under the previous management of Hassan, the team achieved a semi-final appearance at Afcon 2025 and reached the last 16 of the recent Fifa World Cup, though the team managed only two regulation-time wins in their final nine matches, according to Dawn and Maraviexpress.
As Egypt seeks to capitalize on their commanding win against South Sudan, Maher gains an experienced leader in attack with his return, Maraviexpress noted
Maher’s first game at the helm also saw goals from Nasser Maher, Omar Marmoush, and Mohamed Hany, according to Dawn. Daily Sabah reports that Maher began his tenure with a victory.
As Salah enters the final stages of his career, the player is currently competing for Trabzonspor in the Turkish Süper Lig. He has recorded nine goals and three assists in 11 league appearances there, according to Maraviexpress.
The 2027 Afcon remains a primary goal for the forward, as he seeks his first title in a tournament where Egypt holds a record of seven titles, won in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010, according to Maraviexpress. Salah has previously finished as a runner-up twice, losing to Cameroon in 2017 and to Senegal on penalties in 2021, according to Maraviexpress.
Nigeria returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Tanzania in Uyo, Dawn reported. Substitute Tolu Arokodare scored twice within eight minutes to secure a 3-1 win for the Super Eagles over Tanzania, according to Source 2 and Source 5.
The result moves Nigeria to six points in Group L, placing them one point behind leaders Guinea-Bissau, who drew 1-1 with Madagascar on Thursday, Dawn reported. Nigeria face Tanzania twice, in Uyo and Dar es Salaam, knowing that further dropped points could leave them with too big a gulf to reach Guinea-Bissau.
Tanzania, despite the loss, remains guaranteed a place in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations as a co-host alongside Kenya and Uganda, Dawn said. This leaves only one automatic qualifying spot available in Group L for teams like Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, and Madagascar, according to ESPN.
The following table shows the status of several groups following the recent fixtures:
| Group | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | Morocco | 6 |
| Group B | Egypt | 7 |
| Group B | Angola | 4 |
| Group L | Guinea-Bissau | 7 |
| Group L | Nigeria | 6 |
The third round of group qualifiers marks the halfway point of the campaign. The fourth round is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, with the final two rounds taking place in March, according to ESPN. The 2027 finals are scheduled to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, Sportstar reported.