In October 2017, Mohamed Salah scored a stoppage time goal to qualify Egypt for its first FIFA men’s World Cup since 1990.
It was a triumphant moment, even if Egypt lost all three of its group stage matches at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Egypt has only qualified four times, including 2026, and “The Pharaohs” were still seeking their first-ever World Cup win when they took the pitch at Lumen Field in Seattle on Monday afternoon.
Salah, 34, showed his knack for heroics early, as he assisted Emam Ashour’s goal to put Egypt up 1-0 over Belgium in the 19th minute of their opening match.
With his assist for Egypt’s opening goal against Belgium, Mohamed Salah is the first African player on record (since 1966) to register a FIFA World Cup goal involvement on their birthday,” OptaJoe wrote on X.
Egypt maintained the advantage until Belgium legend Romelu Lukaku came on in the 66th minute and, within seconds, pressured Egypt’s Mohamed Hany into an own goal. Both sides had chances, but the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
A World Cup win with Egypt is one of few unchecked boxes on Salah’s decorated resume.
Salah bid farewell to Liverpool this spring, as the world-famous English Premier League club confirmed Salah had “reached an agreement” to leave on a free transfer despite one year remaining on his contract. He departed Anfield with 257 goals (third in Liverpool history) and eight major trophies: two Premier League, two League Cups, one Champions League, one FA Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, and one Club World Cup.
Egypt will try for that elusive first World Cup win against New Zealand on June 21 and Iran on June 26 in Group G play.
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