Mohamed Salah waited, watched, and then won it. On Monday, December 22, 2025, the Egypt captain struck in stoppage time to beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in Agadir and open AFCON 2025 Group B with a comeback the Pharaohs badly needed. It was not shiny or smooth. It was a test of nerve. And, in the end, it was decided by Egypt’s coolest head inside the box.

Zimbabwe led for a long stretch. Egypt pushed, missed, and pushed again. But when it mattered most, Salah found the angle and the net. For a seven-time champion chasing an eighth crown, the late twist felt huge on matchday one.

AFCON 2025: Salah’s late winner settles Egypt vs Zimbabwe

Pressure had been rising by the minute. Crosses flashed through the area, shots were blocked, and time was almost up. Then Salah peeled off his marker, took the ball under control, and snapped a low left-foot finish inside the near post from close range. The strike, a clean, driven hit from about 10 yards, finally beat Washington Arubi, who had denied Egypt several times.

The goal summed up Salah’s night as captain and playmaker: link the moves, create the danger, and deliver when everyone else was tight with nerves. At 33, he still hasn’t lifted AFCON. Nights like this are why Egypt believes he can push them there.

“Salah at 33 still decides games — can Egypt find their groove before South Africa?”

Prince Dube puts Zimbabwe ahead and Egypt on edge

Zimbabwe did not arrive to defend only. Ranked 129th by FIFA, they jumped in front midway through the first half. Prince Dube timed his run and finished after a well-placed cross from the right, catching Egypt’s back line flat-footed. The goal stunned the stadium and gave Zimbabwe belief.

From there, Egypt chased. Salah fed early chances for Trézéguet and Emam Ashour, and the Pharaohs sent wave after wave forward. But Arubi stood tall, tipping and smothering to protect the lead. Zimbabwe headed to halftime in front, calm and compact, happy to frustrate.

“Dube had Egypt rattled — rank 129, but fearless football in Agadir.”

Omar Marmoush levels it with a rocket

The equalizer came on 64 minutes, and it was a hammer. Omar Marmoush found space and lashed a fierce strike into the roof of the net. It was the release Egypt needed. The shot carried power and intent, and it flipped the mood in Agadir. From that moment, Egypt looked energized and more direct, pinning Zimbabwe deep.

Marmoush had been busy all night, dragging defenders around and opening lanes for runners. His goal rewarded that work and set the stage for the closing push.

Hossam Hassan’s tweaks turn the screw

Egypt’s head coach Hossam Hassan adjusted as the clock ticked. He added fresh legs in attack — including a change up front with Mostafa Mohamed — and kept the width high. The plan was simple: sustain pressure, keep Zimbabwe inside their own third, and trust that one clear chance would come.

It did, and it fell to the captain. The way Salah found space at the death showed game IQ as much as quality. He did not blast; he passed the ball into the net with control. That composure was the difference on a tense night.

“Smart tweaks from Hossam Hassan — the late thrust finally matched the talent.”

Zimbabwe’s fight deserves credit

Zimbabwe’s plan almost worked to perfection: strike first, hold shape, and rely on sharp breaks. They were minutes from a point. Flashscore’s Man of the Match: Prince Dube tells you who set the tone for them. Behind him, Arubi’s saves kept the door closed for so long.

There was bravery in how they defended the box and discipline in how they cut off passing lanes. This performance will give them belief for the rest of Group B.

What the result means for Group B

For Egypt, three points from a losing position feels bigger than the scoreline. It calms early nerves and puts the Pharaohs in control of their path. Their next game is on Friday, December 26, against South Africa — a test that will ask for more rhythm in attack and more focus at the back.

For Zimbabwe, this narrow loss still offers positives. They proved they can hurt heavyweights and manage tight games. If they bring the same bite to their next matches, they will be right in the mix for a knockout spot.

Big themes: leadership, composure, and execution

• Leadership: Salah wore the armband and the pressure, guiding Egypt from slow start to strong finish.
• Composure: After falling behind, Egypt did not panic. They kept working the ball into good areas.
• Execution: One clean strike from Marmoush and one clinical finish from Salah made the difference.

We also saw how small margins decide AFCON games. A blocked shot here, a fingertip save there — and then one moment of clarity wins it. Egypt found that moment at the end. Zimbabwe were one moment short.

The bottom line

Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe reads simple on paper. The story was not. Prince Dube flipped the script early. Omar Marmoush pulled Egypt level with a blast on 64 minutes. And Mohamed Salah settled it in stoppage time with a low left-foot finish inside the area.

It was a hard-fought win for a team with big goals. If Egypt sharpen their final ball and keep this composure, they will be hard to stop. But Group B will not hand them anything. South Africa is next. The work starts again now.