Salah’s late winner ensures Egypt beat Zimbabwe – AFCON round-up | OneFootball

The 2025 edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) began on Sunday as hosts Morocco faced Comoros.

Spectacular goals, late winners and more were on show in the opening matches so far.

Here’s a round-up of everything that has happened at AFCON across the first two days…

Morocco 2-0 Comoros

Although the scoreline would suggest the hosts secured a comfortable win in the opening match of the tournament in front of their home fans, it was a tie that was not short of nervy moments.

Soufiane Rahimi had a golden chance from the penalty spot to put Morocco ahead early on, but he saw his spot-kick saved and it would take until the 55th minute for the hosts to take the lead through Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz.

However, the most exciting moment of the game was yet to come as Ayoub El Kaabi struck home a powerful overhead kick with 15 minutes ago to earn his side all three points in the match.

Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe

It was expected that an Egypt side led by Omar Marmoush and Mohamed Salah would ease past Zimbabwe in their opening group match, but that was not the case.

It was instead Zimbabwe who would open the scoring after 20 minutes. Prince Dube’s strike came against the run of play after Egypt missed several chances in the early stages.

However, the north African side would eventually level through Marmoush before Salah made sure they secured all three points in the 91st minute as he latched onto a loose ball and poked home.

South Africa 2-1 Angola

South Africa placed third at the previous AFCON in 2023 and they got off to a good start in Morocco after Oswin Appollis fired them into the lead in the 21st minute.

However, they were pegged back just 14 minutes later as Show flicked a free-kick from Fredy into the bottom corner.

With nerves piling up for South Africa towards the end of the match, it was Burnley forward Lyle Foster who would come up trumps for his country as his beautiful finish from the edge of the area made sure they got off to the perfect start.

Mali 1-1 Zambia

There was more late drama as Mali faced Zambia.

Lassine Sinayoko had Mali ahead after an hour when he latched onto a loose ball following a corner but that would not be the end of the scoring.

With 92 minutes on the clock, Matthews Banda’s cross was met by Patson Daka to head home to make sure the points were shared. Daka tried a backflip when celebrating his late equaliser, but landed on his neck and was lucky to avoid serious injury.