Egypt’s Salah moves above Hassan as Pharaohs revive 23-year scoring feat

Egypt scored five goals in successive matches in the qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since June 2003, while Mohamed Salah moved into third place among Africa’s leading international scorers.

The Pharaohs followed a 5-0 victory over South Sudan with another 5-0 win against Malawi in the third round at Cairo Stadium on Friday. The run is the first of its kind for Egypt in more than 23 years.

Their previous back-to-back five-goal victories came in June 2003. Egypt defeated Mauritius 7-0 on 8 June before beating Madagascar 6-0 on 20 June in qualifying for the continental tournament.

The latest results represent a sharp improvement in Egypt’s attacking output after they opened their current qualifying campaign with a goalless draw against Angola. They have since produced 10 goals in two matches against South Sudan and Malawi.

Salah climbs African scoring list

Salah’s second-half double took his international total for Egypt to 70 goals, according to French network Stats Foot.

Only Zambia’s Godfrey Chitalu, with 79 goals, and former Malawi forward Kinnah Phiri, who scored 71, are above Salah in the list of Africa’s highest scorers for senior national teams.

Salah moved ahead of Egypt’s former manager Hossam Hassan, who finished his international career with 69 goals. He also surpassed Didier Drogba, who scored 65 times for Ivory Coast.

The milestone gives Salah the best international scoring record in Egyptian football, ending Hassan’s long-standing hold on the national team mark.

Egypt dominate in Cairo

The victory lifted Egypt to seven points and top spot in their group, while Malawi remained third on three points.

Egypt began with clear attacking intent and nearly took the lead in the fifth minute when Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, played in by Salah, sent his effort narrowly wide of the right post.

Nasser Maher opened the scoring a minute later, and Omar Marmoush added a second four minutes after that to put the hosts in control.

Malawi briefly threatened when Richard Mbulu struck a powerful effort in the 22nd minute, but Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir made an excellent save. Hossam Abdel Maguid was booked two minutes later.

Maher came close to a second goal in the 27th minute with a long-range effort that went just wide, before Mohamed Hany made it 3-0 in the 38th minute with a powerful strike from outside the penalty area.

Egypt continued to control possession after the interval, with Malawi struggling to create opportunities and much of the play taking place in midfield.

Salah headed in the fourth goal in the 84th minute from Ibrahim Adel’s precise cross. He then completed the scoring from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of added time after Hamza Abdelkarim, the Barcelona forward, had been fouled.