They're often referred to as "Salah's Egypt," and it's easy to see why.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has scored five of Egypt's seven goals in World Cup qualifying, but none so crucial as his injury-time penalty on Sunday that earned the Pharaohs a spot at next year's World Cup in Russia.
Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates defeating Congo during the 2018 World Cup group E qualifying soccer match at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria, Egypt, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. Egypt won 2-1. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
"I thank you Mohamed," President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said Monday in a televised ceremony with the national team. "I thank you all, of course, but Mohamed was under a great deal of pressure from 100 million Egyptians. He had to convert for us to win."
The 25-year-old Salah had already given his team the lead against the Republic of Congo in the 63rd minute, slotting home after collecting a through pass from Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny. But after the visitors equalized just before the end of regulation, it was Salah that produced Egypt's 2-1 victory.
Had the match ended in a 1-1 draw, Egypt would have faced the formidable task of beating Ghana away in the group's final round next month to be sure of qualification. Instead, Egypt will be headed back to the World Cup for the first time since 1990.
With Liverpool, Salah has scored six goals in all competitions so far in his first season with the English team. He has for years been a favorite with fans in soccer-crazed Egypt, but his two goals on Sunday have elevated him to a national hero. To fans, he almost single-handedly ended the grief and frustration millions of Egyptians endured every time they came so agonizingly close to qualifying for the World Cup only to falter at the last hurdle.
Egypt's Mohamed Salah, center, celebrates with his teammates after defeating Congo during the 2018 World Cup group E qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Congo at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria, Egypt, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. Egypt won 2-1. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
Fans took to social media to post collages of Salah dressed as a king and others devised a play on words for "Sabah el-kheir," Arabic for good morning, by changing it to "Salah el-kheir." On Facebook, fans wrote: "Salah for president."
Salah is one of a crop of young Egyptian players earning a living with European clubs, including three others in the Premier League. But Salah is by far the most popular, partially because he is a goal scorer, but mostly because of his passion and dedication.
That was on display Sunday. Salah fell to his knees in anguish and then laid face down on the ground after the Republic of Congo equalized. But he got back on his feet moments later, collected the ball and rallied his teammates. He then turned to the capacity crowd of 30,000, gesturing to continue rooting for the team.
"May God make you happy Salah just as you made all Egyptians happy," former Egypt international Hazem Emam, one of the country's greats, wrote on Twitter.
Happy they were.
Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates after defeating Congo during the 2018 World Cup group E qualifying soccer match at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria, Egypt, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. Egypt won 2-1. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
The win sent hundreds of thousands of Egyptians celebrating across the country until the early hours of Monday morning. They waved the country's white, red and black flag, honked cars and yelled "Egypt! Egypt!"
It was a welcome break for a nation that has been roiled in turmoil for most of the six years since a popular uprising, with the vast majority now struggling to make ends meet in the face of soaring prices, higher utility bills and crumbling services and security forces fighting to contain an insurgency by Islamic militants.
That turmoil has affected the soccer team, which failed to qualify for three straight African Cups from 2012-15 before making a return this year. Argentine coach Hector Cuper led Egypt to the African Cup final in February on that return, eventually losing to Cameroon.
"Did you see what you have done to Egyptians in just over an hour?" el-Sissi told the squad on Monday. "Everyone is happy."
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Mohamed Salah scored and Egypt eliminated defending champion Ivory Coast to move into the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals after a 3-2 victory on Saturday.
Salah nabbed his fourth goal of the tournament — Egypt’s third of the game — in the 52nd minute and the Pharaohs needed it as Ivory Coast threatened to come back twice from two goals down.
But Egypt held on in Agadir despite relentless Ivorian pressure and booked a semifinal date with 2021 champion Senegal in Tangier on Wednesday.
“We just fight for our country and hopefully we go through the next game as well," Salah said. "It’s (a) tough opponent, of course, and we give our best.”
Ivory Coast had a woeful start as Franck Kessie lost the ball in midfield after a poor touch and Odilon Kossounou fell over instead of cutting out Emam Ashour’s ball for Omar Marmoush, who scored in the fourth minute.
Ramy Rabia produced a brilliant block to preserve the lead then scored himself with a header from a corner in the 32nd.
Ivory Coast finally pulled one back in the 40th when Egypt defender Ahmed Fotouh bundled in a dangerous Yan Diomande free kick that Kossounou headed on.
Salah restored Egypt’s two-goal cushion early in the second half when Rabia caught the Ivorian defense out with a long ball for Ashour, who set up Salah with the outside of his boot.
Guéla Doué pulled one back again with his heel in a goalmouth scramble after goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy clawed the ball away in the 73rd, but the Elephants' equalizer never came.
Egypt is bidding for a record-extending eighth title.
Victor Osimhen scored one goal and set up another for Nigeria to down Algeria 2-0 for its place in the semifinals.
“We shouldn’t focus on my personal performance. We should focus on the team effort,” Osimhen said after a week in which he dominated headlines for his on-field argument with teammate Ademola Lookman in their previous game.
The Super Eagles, who had a far from ideal preparation with reports of bonuses not being paid, will face host Morocco in the second semifinal in Rabat on Wednesday.
They needed patience in Marrakech against the team with the best defense in the tournament after failing to take their chances in the first half — Akor Adams fired over when he had only Luca Zidane in the Algeria goal to beat, and Calvin Bassey had another effort cleared off the line.
Osimhen finally scored after the break when he headed the ball back across Zidane’s direction of movement from Bruno Onyemaechi’s cross.
It was the first goal at the tournament conceded by Zidane, whose parents were in the stands again.
But it was quickly followed by the second.
Patient buildup play preceded Alex Iwobi’s pass to Osimhen, who unselfishly played across for Adams, who eluded the out-rushing Zidane and poked the ball into the empty net in the 57th.
Algeria coach Vladimir Petković reacted with three changes including the withdrawals of captain Riyad Mahrez and star forward Ibrahim Maza but there was nothing the Fennec Foxes could do to get back in the game against the confident and assured Nigerians, who remained in control throughout.
Scuffles broke out after the game involving players and team officials, while referee Issa Sy was shielded from irate Algeria staff and escorted off the field.
Three-time champion Nigeria, which lost the final to Ivory Coast in the last edition, is bidding to win the title for the first time since 2013. It would help make up for the disappointment of failing to qualify for the World Cup — in contrast to Algeria.
Morocco and Senegal booked their semifinal places on Friday with wins over Cameroon and Mali, respectively.
AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
Egypt's Mohamed Salah, left, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Egypt and Ivory Coast, in Agadir, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Egypt and Ivory Coast, in Agadir, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Egypt's Mohamed Salah, right, scores his side's third goal during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Egypt and Ivory Coast, in Agadir, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Nigeria's Calvin Bassey, front, and Algeria's Redouane Berkane challenge for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Nigeria and Algeria, in Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Algeria's Fares Chaibi, left, and Nigeria's Akor Adams challenge for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Nigeria and Algeria, in Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Algeria's Rafik Belghali, left, and Nigeria's Akor Adams challenge for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Nigeria and Algeria, in Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Nigeria's Victor Osimhen celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Nigeria and Algeria, in Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Nigeria's Victor Osimhen controls the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Nigeria and Algeria, in Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
