Mohamed Salah has put his uncertain Liverpool future to one side by once again stepping up for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Egypt captain was his country’s hero by in Monday’s 2-1 group-opener victory over Zimbabwe with a second-half stoppage-time winner.
And the 33-year-old was The Pharaohs’ matchwinner for a second-successive match – this time in their Boxing Day encounter with South Africa in Agadir.
Salah scored a first-half penalty as 10-man Egypt defeated South Africa 1-0 in their Group B clash to become the first team into the knockout stages of the competition.
The Liverpool forward won the penalty when he was clipped in the face by South Africa defender Khuliso Mudau as they tussled for the ball in the box.
After recovering from the blow he stepped up to easily convert for his second goal of the tournament by shooting down the middle of the goal.
Mohamed Salah was Egypt’s matchwinner once again, this time in a 1-0 win over South Africa
He scored a penalty after being fouled in the face during the first-half of the clash in Agadir
The forward celebrates with his team-mates after scoring – with Egypt now into the knockouts
That goal is his 65th at international level.
Egypt lost right back Mohamed Hany to a red card for an ugly stamp at the end of the first half and faced wave after wave of South African attacks in the second period, as the latter were denied a penalty of their own for handball following a lengthy VAR check.
South Africa will feel aggrieved with the spot-kick decision, especially after Pacifique Ndabihawenimana was called over to the screen on the sideline.
But they also did not have enough quality in the final third to punish Egypt and drive home their dominance in the second half.
Egypt have six points from their opening two games and have won the group with a game to spare.
South Africa have three points from their two games, while Zimbabwe and Angola have one each after they drew 1-1 earlier in the day.
