Mohamed Salah becomes Egypt's all-time top scorer with a double against Malawi
At a glance
- Salah's late double in a 5-0 win over Malawi took him to 70 goals for Egypt.
- An 84th-minute header drew him level with Hossam Hassan; a stoppage-time Panenka penalty broke the record.
- Egypt play the return match in Malawi on Tuesday, 17 November.
Mohamed Salah is now the leading goalscorer in the history of Egypt's national team. In an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Malawi on Friday night, he scored twice late on to move past the great striker Hossam Hassan. Egypt won 5-0, and Salah's international tally now stands at 70.
History in the last ten minutes
Egypt controlled the game at home from the start. Goals from team-mates put them 3-0 up, but for most of the night Salah's name was missing from the scoresheet, and the crowd was left wondering whether the record would come.
In the 84th minute Salah headed in to draw level with Hossam Hassan's 69 goals. In stoppage time Egypt were awarded a penalty. Rather than blasting it, Salah chipped the ball softly down the middle of the goal, the technique known as a Panenka. That goal made the record his alone.
Salah's record at a glance
- Goals for Egypt: 70, in 123 matches
- International debut: 2011
- Previous record holder: Hossam Hassan, 69 goals, a mark that stood for about two decades
- Age: 34
Salah has also climbed to third on Africa's all-time list of international goalscorers, with only two players now ahead of him.
In form at club level too
Last summer Salah ended his long Liverpool chapter and joined Turkish club Trabzonspor. This season he has 9 goals in 11 Turkish Super Lig games, and he became the first player since records began in 2014-15 to reach 10 goal contributions in his first seven Super Lig matches. In nine years at Liverpool he scored 191 Premier League goals, the club's highest in the competition, and his 277 goal contributions are the most by any player for a single club in Premier League history.
The group and a new coach's start
The win puts Egypt top of AFCON qualifying Group B with 7 points from three games, three clear of second-placed Angola. It was also the first match in charge for new coach Ali Maher, and he could hardly have asked for a better start.
The match in brief
- Competition: Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Group B
- Result: Egypt 5, Malawi 0
- Salah's goals: an 84th-minute header and a stoppage-time Panenka penalty
- Match day: Friday, 13 November
What happens next
Egypt face Malawi again on Tuesday, 17 November, this time away. More goals there would give Salah the chance to climb even higher on Africa's all-time list.
Why the record matters
Hossam Hassan is one of the biggest names in Egyptian football, and his record lasted for many years. Even while establishing himself as one of the best players in world club football, Salah had to wait a long time to reach it. By taking it at 34, he now sits among the leading figures not only of Egyptian but of African football history. Salah is also hugely popular with European football fans in Bangladesh, which is why the news is drawing so much interest here.
FAQ
How many goals has Mohamed Salah scored for Egypt?
After his double against Malawi, Salah has 70 goals for Egypt in 123 appearances, the most in the country's history.
Who held Egypt's scoring record before Salah?
Former striker Hossam Hassan, with 69 goals. The record had stood for about two decades.
What is a Panenka penalty?
A penalty that is chipped softly down the middle of the goal instead of being struck hard. It is named after Czechoslovak player Antonin Panenka.
When is Egypt's next match?
Egypt face Malawi again in the reverse qualifier in Malawi on Tuesday, 17 November.