CAIRO, Egypt, Jun 27 – Mohamed Salah scored his first goal of the Africa Cup of Nations as hosts Egypt secured a place in the last 16 on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ahmed Elmohamady prodded Egypt ahead on 25 minutes after a wicked Salah cross and the Liverpool star slammed in a second shortly before half-time to spark frenzied celebrations at a packed Cairo International Stadium.

Record seven-time champions Egypt rode their luck at times as DR Congo twice struck the crossbar in the first half but the Group A leaders held firm to join Nigeria as the first teams through to the knockout phase.

Egypt overcame the distraction of Amr Warda being banished from the squad earlier in the day over mounting sexual harassment allegations. The claims surfaced earlier this week on social media platforms. Multiple women posted screenshots and testimonies of Warda’s alleged lewd comments.

Coach Javier Aguirre fielded the same side that defeated Zimbabwe 1-0, with centre-back Ahmed Hegazy sporting a mask after breaking his nose in the opening game of the tournament.

Salah was guilty of missing a hatful of chances in the curtain-raiser and this season’s Premier League joint top scorer again threatened inside five minutes here when an interception broke his way only for the Egyptian to skew wide under pressure.

After four days of small crowds, a capacity 75,000 crowd again turned out to cheer on the hosts in the capital, but they were nearly silenced when Marcel Tisserand slammed against the bar at a corner.

DR Congo came to Egypt as one of the most unpredictable qualifiers having finished third in 2015 only to make a timid quarter-final exit two years ago, and they fell behind for the second straight game as Elmohamady forced home after the ball fell kindly to him following an aerial challenge with Christian Luyindama.

Having created the opener with his vicious right-wing cross, Salah then stung the palms of Ley Matampi with a powerful 25-yard free-kick.

Egypt would be rescued by the woodwork once more though when a deep cross was nodded back across goal by Bokadi Bope before Jonathan Bolingi’s looping header bounced back off the bar.

With his side riding their luck, Salah rose to the occasion and settled Egyptian nerves two minutes before half-time with a typically brilliant finish.

Played into space down the right by Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan, Salah skipped inside Tisserand and ripped a crisp low drive inside Matampi’s near post to cue a volcanic eruption from the masses of delirious Egyptians supporters.

Mohamed El Shenawy produced an excellent sprawling second-half save to claw out a Jacques Maghoma header, but despite an improvement on a horror first outing, DR Congo now know they must beat Zimbabwe in their final game in order to possibly advance as one of the four best third-place finishers.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Salah sends Egypt into Cup of Nations last 16

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Durant opts out of Warriors deal for NBA free agencyrn

rn rn Basketballrn rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn David Silva set for final season at Man Cityrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 11 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Bayern consider bid for Ousmane Dembelern

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 12 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn EPL stars Mahrez, Mane renew rivalry in faraway Cairorn

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn 16 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Raptors exec Ujiri says will stay in Torontorn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 17 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Starc reveals fan banter inspired his England demolitionrn

rn rn Cricketrn rn rn rn 16 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn I didnu2019t recognize my team, says Mignern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Joash ruled out of Algeria AFCON openerrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Soi, Tanui book 10k slots for Africa Gamesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kenya ready for the World Cup, says Odingarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Ex-England star urges Tottenham to keep Wanyamarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Stars handed Algeria loss in AFCON openerrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn KPL trio eager to help Burundi at AFCONrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Manyatta, Al-Ahly clash in Chapa Dimba finalrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Wanyama, from Nairobi streets to UCL finalistrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Shocking Musona miss costs Zimbabwe in Uganda draw

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Durant opts out of Warriors deal for NBA free agency

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

David Silva set for final season at Man City

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Bayern consider bid for Ousmane Dembele

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

EPL stars Mahrez, Mane renew rivalry in faraway Cairo

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL EGYPT WIN 2019 AFCON AT HOME?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Raptors exec Ujiri says will stay in Toronto

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Starc reveals fan banter inspired his England demolition

rn rn rn Cricketrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

10-man Ghana held by Benin in Ismailia

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Cameroon begin AFCON defence with victory

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Nigeria call off Nations Cup bonus strike

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Salah sends Egypt into Cup of Nations last 16rn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Shocking Musona miss costs Zimbabwe in Uganda drawrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Durant opts out of Warriors deal for NBA free agencyrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Nigeria first qualifiers for AFCON round of 16rn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Stage set for WRC Safari Candidate Eventrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tI didnu2019t recognize my team, says Mignern

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 24th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tJoash ruled out of Algeria AFCON openerrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Sunday, 23rd Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tSoi, Tanui book 10k slots for Africa Gamesrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKenya ready for the World Cup, says Odingarn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 20th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tEx-England star urges Tottenham to keep Wanyamarn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tStars handed Algeria loss in AFCON openerrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Monday, 24th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKPL trio eager to help Burundi at AFCONrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tManyatta, Al-Ahly clash in Chapa Dimba finalrn

rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWanyama, from Nairobi streets to UCL finalistrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Salah sends Egypt into Cup of Nations last 16rn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Shocking Musona miss costs Zimbabwe in Uganda drawrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Durant opts out of Warriors deal for NBA free agencyrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Nigeria first qualifiers for AFCON round of 16rn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Stage set for WRC Safari Candidate Eventrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */