Mohamed Salah scored twice on Friday, November 13, as Egypt defeated Malawi 5-0 in an AFCON 2027 qualifier.
The performance at Cairo International Stadium saw the former Liverpool forward reach 70 international goals, making him Egypt’s all-time leading scorer, according to The Rio Times. The 34-year-old’s milestone performance saw him overtake Hossam Hassan, a former Egypt striker who served as the national coach until last week. This victory marks a successful debut for Nasser Maher at the helm of the team.
Egypt’s dominant display in Group B secured them seven points from three matches, placing them three points ahead of Angola. The Pharaohs had previously earned four points from their first two games in the group, including a 0-0 draw against Angola where Salah was substituted after 60 minutes, and a win against South Sudan.
Egypt secures 5-0 victory over Malawi
Egypt established a comfortable lead early in the match, scoring twice within the first ten minutes. Nasser Maher opened the scoring in the sixth minute, followed by a goal from the forward Omar Marmoush in the 10th minute, as reported by Foot Africa.
Mohamed Hany extended the lead to 3-0 before the half-time whistle. Malawi, who had recorded a victory against South Sudan earlier in the group, never found a way back into the match.
The victory for Maher’s side comes following the departure of Hossam Hassan, who led Egypt to the semi-finals of Afcon 2025 and the last 16 of this year’s Fifa World Cup.
The return match is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2026, in Malawi, where Salah has the opportunity to extend his goal count.
Nigeria defeats Tanzania in Group L
Nigeria also found success in Group L, defeating Tanzania 3-1. Alhassan Yusuf put Nigeria ahead after just 103 seconds. Alphonce Mabula Msanga equalized for Tanzania in the 31st minute following a rare attack. Tolu Arokodare, who scored twice in the second half to help Nigeria beat Tanzania 3-1, entered the game as a substitute and made an impact.
Although Tanzania finished at the bottom of the table with one point, they are guaranteed a place at the 2027 AFCON as co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda. This means Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, and Madagascar must compete for the remaining single spot at the 24-nation tournament, which will be the first held in East Africa since 1976.
The following table summarizes the results from the qualifying matches played on Friday, November 13:
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| Egypt v Malawi | 5-0 |
| Morocco v Niger | 5-1 |
| Nigeria v Tanzania | 3-1 |
| South Africa v Kenya | 2-2 |
| Tunisia v Libya | 0-2 |
| Cape Verde v Liberia | 4-2 |
| Mali v Rwanda | 3-2 |
| Gabon v Lesotho | 2-0 |
| Burkina Faso v Mauritania | 1-0 |
| Zambia v Burundi | 1-1 |
| Mozambique v Ethiopia | 0-1 |
| Comoros v Congo | 0-0 |
Egypt leads Group B standings
Following the win, Egypt leads Group B with seven points. Angola follows with four points. Malawi is in third place with three points, and South Sudan sits at the bottom with none. Angola is scheduled to play South Sudan on Saturday.
Earlier coverage: Mohamed Salah Breaks Record as Egypt Thrashes Malawi 5-0