Egypt not among the Afcon favourites but will keep fighting, says Mohamed Salah

RABAT – Egypt forward Mohamed Salah said his team were not among the favourites to win the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title, but insisted they would give of their best to go deeper in the tournament in Morocco.

Liverpool’s Salah scored the third goal to secure Egypt’s spot in the quarter-finals with a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory over Benin on Jan 5 in Agadir.

Hossam Hassan’s side are bidding to win the title for the first time since 2010 and a record eighth time overall.

“I don’t think we are a favourite at all (to win the title)” Salah told reporters.

“We have young players and most of them play in Egypt. We just fight for our country... but everybody gives their best and you could see today.”

The 33-year-old said there were no easy games at Afcon.

“The level is quite similar. I told the team yesterday that no side loses by four or five goals. (Benin) have a good team and a good coach... I'm glad we managed to win in the end.”

Salah has scored 10 goals in 22 games in the Afcon, two fewer than Hassan El-Shazly, Egypt’s all-time top scorer in the tournament, and one fewer than his current coach Hassan.

Marwan Attia put the Pharaohs ahead on 69 minutes, side-footing superbly into the roof of the net from just outside the box after being set up by Mohamed Hany.

Benin lie 57 places below Egypt in the world rankings, but they forced extra time by equalising in the 83rd minute when Jodel Dossou scored from close range.

Yasser Ibrahim headed Egypt back in front seven minutes into the extra period, before Salah ended any doubt about the outcome on the breakaway right at the end with his third goal at the tournament.

“They scored during a difficult period for us, but we managed to regain control,” Ibrahim said.

“We knew Benin had strong qualities. I think we dropped a bit in the last 10 minutes and they took advantage of that. But the team responded well.”

Egypt will face defending champions the Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals in Agadir on Jan 10.

In the other last-16 tie on Jan 5, Victor Osimhen grabbed a brace and Ademola Lookman played a part in all the goals as Nigeria comprehensively beat Mozambique 4-0 on a rainy night in Fes.

Atalanta forward Lookman, a former winner of the African Footballer of the Year award like Osimhen, opened the scoring after 20 minutes from an Akor Adams assist.

Osimhen had started the game without wearing his trademark mask but restored the face covering before netting Nigeria’s second goal on 25 minutes, after a Lookman cross from the left was helped on by Adams.

The Galatasaray forward then scored again from another Lookman delivery just after half-time, his third goal in three Afcon games.

Lookman was again the provider as Sevilla forward Adams rifled in the fourth 15 minutes from the end, as the Super Eagles recorded the biggest win in an Afcon knockout tie since Egypt hammered Algeria 4-0 in the semi-finals at the 2010 tournament in Angola.

“It was a good performance from the team, scoring four goals. There is lots to be happy with,” said Lookman.

Nigeria march on to a last-eight tie on Jan 10 in Marrakech against either Algeria or the Democratic Republic of Congo.
REUTERS, AFP