Liverpool Star Shines as Foster Wins it for South Africa; Top-of-Table Clash Looms
Mohamed Salah provided a dramatic reminder of his enduring class, scoring a 91st-minute winner to rescue Egypt in a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe, while Lyle Foster’s late strike earned South Africa a 2-1 win over Angola as the Africa Cup of Nations Group B campaign ignited on Monday.
In a thrilling opener in Agadir, the record seven-time champions Egypt were rattled after falling behind to Prince Dube’s 20th-minute goal. They labored for an equalizer, finally finding it through Omar Marmoush in the 63rd minute. Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, Salah’s perseverance paid off, with the Liverpool forward snatching the decisive goal deep into added time to ignite Egyptian celebrations.
Earlier in Marrakesh, South Africa overcame a sluggish first-half performance to secure their own 2-1 win. Oswin Appollis’s 21st-minute opener was canceled out by Angola before halftime, but sustained second-half pressure, including a disallowed goal and a shot off the crossbar, was finally rewarded when Burnley striker Lyle Foster calmly finished in the 79th minute.
“Tshepang [Moremi] was wonderful when he came on,” said South Africa coach Hugo Broos, acknowledging a game-changing substitution. “Suddenly there was speed in our team, we were dangerous.”
The results set up a mouthwatering top-of-the-table clash between Egypt and South Africa in Agadir on Friday, a pivotal match in the battle for group supremacy. Meanwhile, in Group A, Mali was left with a “very painful” feeling after conceding a last-gasp equalizer to draw 1-1 with Zambia, setting up a crucial Friday showdown for the Eagles against hosts Morocco.
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