Salah hits four as Egypt hammer Djibouti in World Cup qualifiers opener

Ahram Online , Thursday 16 Nov 2023

Egyptian skipper Mohamed Salah was in sensational form as the Pharaohs thrashed Djibouti 6-0 in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at Cairo Stadium on Thursday.

Salah
Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah controls the ball during his side's 6-0 victory over Djibouti in the Group A of CAF 2026 World Cup qualifier at Cairo International Stadium on Thursday, November 16. Photo: Ahram gate.

 

Salah's four-goal performance marked an impressive start for Egypt in their qualifying campaign.

The Liverpool forward wasted no time making an impact, opening the scoring in the 17th minute by easily converting a well-placed cross from Mostafa Mohamed.

Just two minutes later, Omar Kamal was fouled inside the area, resulting in a penalty that Salah confidently converted to double Egypt's lead.

After the break, Salah completed his hat trick in the 48th minute, calmly slotting the ball into an empty net from a delightful cross by Ahmed Fatouh.

The Liverpool star then added his fourth goal with a precise shot from inside the area, catching the goalkeeper off guard.

Despite missing several opportunities throughout the game, FC Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed managed to contribute to the scoreline, scoring Egypt's fifth goal in the 74th minute after capitalizing on a rebounded shot.

Substitute winger Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan completed the rout with a superb curling shot from inside the area.

The Pharaohs showcased a dominant performance against their underdog opponents, who failed to mount a single attack during the entire 90 minutes of the match.

With this victory, Egypt now sits at the top of the Group with three points. They will face Sierra Leone away from home in their next match on Sunday.

Egypt were drawn into Group A alongside Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and Djibouti for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Salah' night

It was really an extraordinary night for Mohamed Salah, as he scored four goals for the first time in his international career and only the second time in his overall career, the previous occasion being against Watford in the Premier League back in 2018.

With these four goals, Salah now ranks second on Egypt's all-time top scorers list with 53 goals, behind the legendary retired striker Hossam Hassan, who amassed 68 goals.

Moreover, Salah became Egypt's highest goal scorer in the history of World Cup qualifiers, surpassing retired midfielder Mohamed Abou Treika's record of 15 goals.

Since his first international appearance in September 2011, the 31-year-old forward has made 92 appearances for the Pharaohs, solidifying his status as a key figure in Egyptian football.

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