Mohamed Salah moved to within one goal of becoming Egypt’s all-time leading scorer and helped guide the Pharaohs to a landmark first-ever FIFA World Cup victory with a 3-1 win over New Zealand on Sunday night.
The Egyptian captain delivered another influential performance on the global stage, scoring his 68th international goal and providing two assists as Egypt secured a historic result that will be remembered as a defining moment in the nation’s football history.
The victory marked Egypt’s first win at a FIFA World Cup, a milestone that Salah described as a source of immense pride for the country. The 34-year-old forward also became Egypt’s leading scorer in World Cup history, taking his tally at the tournament to three goals after previously scoring twice during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“What happened today is history for us as Egyptians,” Salah said after the match. “We see a lot of teams win games, but for us as Egyptian, it doesn’t happen often, first time in history.”
The triumph came at a time when Salah’s club future remains uncertain. After nine seasons with Liverpool, during which he won two Premier League titles and became the competition’s highest-scoring foreign player, the Egyptian star recently confirmed that his stay at Anfield would end a year earlier than expected following a difficult season and growing tensions surrounding his future.
Despite the uncertainty off the pitch, Salah continues to shine for his national team. He entered the tournament in excellent form after scoring nine goals in 10 qualifying matches, becoming the highest scorer in African World Cup qualifying history.
Against New Zealand, however, the forward initially struggled to impose himself. He missed from a direct free kick in the opening half and watched as the Kiwis grabbed an early lead.
But Salah’s quality eventually proved decisive. In the 67th minute, he latched onto a pass from Mostafa Ziko and calmly slotted the ball beyond goalkeeper Max Crocombe after it slipped under a defender, giving Egypt a crucial 2-1 advantage.
The goal took Salah to 68 international strikes, leaving him just one shy of the national record held by current Egypt coach Hossam Hassan.
Salah continued to torment the New Zealand defence and added another assist in the 82nd minute as Egypt sealed victory with a third goal. It was his second assist of the match, underlining his all-round influence on the contest.
New Zealand captain Chris Wood acknowledged the threat posed by the Egyptian talisman.
“He’s a good player,” Wood said. “You have to keep an eye on him.”
Egypt manager Hossam Hassan also praised his captain’s contribution, expressing confidence that even more could be expected from the veteran forward as the tournament progresses.
“Salah worked hard on the pitch,” Hassan said. “I am sure we are going to see more from him.”
The result significantly boosts Egypt’s hopes of advancing deeper into the expanded 48-team World Cup, while also adding another remarkable chapter to Salah’s already glittering international career.
With 68 goals, a growing list of national records and now the distinction of captaining the first Egyptian team to win a World Cup match, Salah continues to cement his place among the greatest footballers in African history.
AP
