Mohamed Salah Becomes Egypt's All-Time Leading Goalscorer

Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah has become his country's all-time leading goalscorer, scoring twice in the national team's 5-0 victory over Malawi in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Friday, 13 November. The match, played at Cairo International Stadium, saw Egypt take an early lead through Nasser Maher in the sixth minute, followed by a goal from Omar Marmoush five minutes later. Mohamed Hany added a third before half-time, with Salah scoring twice in the closing minutes.

Salah's first goal came in the 84th minute with a header from Ibrahim Adel's cross, bringing his international tally level with former Egypt captain and coach Hossam Hassan's record of 69 goals. He then scored his 70th international goal with a Panenka penalty in stoppage time, securing the record in his 123rd appearance for Egypt, according to the Confederation of African Football. This achievement marks a significant milestone in Salah's career, solidifying his position as one of Egypt's most prominent footballers.

The victory marked the first match under newly appointed head coach Ali Maher, who replaced Hossam Hassan earlier in November. Salah made his international debut for Egypt in 2011 and has since represented the national team in major international competitions, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup and several Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He was also part of the Egyptian squads that reached the AFCON finals in 2017 and 2021, finishing as runners-up on both occasions.

At club level, Salah spent nine years with Liverpool, becoming the club's highest goalscorer in Premier League history with 191 goals. He also recorded 277 Premier League goal contributions for the club, combining goals and assists. The Egyptian forward currently plays for Turkish club Trabzonspor, where he has scored nine goals in 11 league appearances this season.

The victory over Malawi placed Egypt at the top of Group B in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers with seven points from three matches. Egypt will face Malawi again on Tuesday, 17 November, in the return fixture in Lilongwe, as the national team continues its campaign to qualify for the tournament, which will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Salah's record-breaking achievement has sparked widespread celebration in Egypt, with fans and pundits alike praising his dedication and skill on the pitch. As the national team prepares for the next match against Malawi, Egyptians will be eagerly anticipating their team's continued success in the qualifiers.

With this latest achievement, Mohamed Salah cements his legacy as one of Egypt's greatest footballers, and his record-breaking goal will likely be remembered for years to come. As the team moves forward, Salah's experience and leadership will be crucial in Egypt's pursuit of success in the 2027 AFCON.

Key points

• Mohamed Salah scored his 70th international goal, breaking Hossam Hassan's record of 69 goals.
• The victory over Malawi placed Egypt at the top of Group B in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers with seven points from three matches.
• Salah has scored nine goals in 11 league appearances for Turkish club Trabzonspor this season.