CAIRO (The Thursday Times) — Mohamed Salah headed in and then chipped a stoppage-time penalty to reach 70 goals for Egypt, moving past Hossam Hassan as his country routed Malawi 5-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Cairo on Friday.
The 34-year-old left it late at the Cairo International Stadium. He scored with a far-post header in the 84th minute to draw level with Hassan, then went past him five minutes into added time with a Panenka penalty after Hamza Abdelkarim was brought down in the box.
The match was the first in charge for Ali Maher, who replaced Hassan as coach after the former striker was sacked last week. Nasser Maher, Omar Marmoush, and Mohamed Hany had already put Egypt 3-0 up by half-time.
Salah, the former Liverpool forward who now plays for Trabzonspor, has won 123 caps since making his Egypt debut in 2011.
The win leaves Egypt top of Group B with seven points from three matches, three clear of Angola, who host South Sudan on Saturday.
Hakimi double for Morocco
Achraf Hakimi, the favourite to retain his African Footballer of the Year award next month, also scored twice as Group A leaders Morocco beat Niger 5-1 in Casablanca.
Nigeria beat Tanzania 3-1 in Uyo. Alhassan Yusuf scored after 103 seconds and Alphonce Msanga equalised on 32 minutes, before substitute Tolu Arokodaro, who has six goals in his last five matches for Ajax, struck twice within eight minutes after the break.
Tunisia lost 2-0 at home to Libya, and Kenya scored in the final minute to snatch a 2-2 draw away to South Africa.
In Europe, Tijjani Reijnders scored a first-half hat-trick as the Netherlands beat Greece 7-0 in the Nations League.
