Mohamed Salah admission made as Liverpool star makes telling AFCON impact with Egypt

Mohamed Salah has been in fine form for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, with the Liverpool forward scoring the match-winning goals in the Pharaohs' first two Group B matches

Mohamed Salah during the match between Egypt and Angola at the African Cup of Nations.(Image: Mohamed Tageldin / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah has been hailed as a game-changer for Egypt, thanks to his goal-scoring prowess in the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Currently on duty with the Egyptian national team in Morocco, Salah kicked off his AFCON campaign in style, netting the decisive goals in the Pharaohs' first two Group B matches against Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The 33-year-old's stellar performance helped the record seven-time champions advance from the group stage, setting up a round of 16 clash with Benin in Agadir on Monday.

However, while Salah's heroics have been making headlines in North Africa, they've had a crushing effect in the south of the continent. Zimbabwe was left reeling after a 2-1 defeat to Egypt in their opening match.

The Liverpool forward was the driving force behind his country's victory that day, scoring a dramatic injury-time winner to secure a comeback win, a result that still haunts Warriors' goalkeeper coach, Pernell McKop.

"We looked good value for a point against Egypt, but the two goals we conceded were goals that we gave away against a very good side," lamented McKop, who notably collaborated with Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar in the Zimbabwe camp in the 1990s.

"For 90 minutes we contained them and then for one minute, in the 91st minute, we dropped our concentration and Salah struck. That's Salah though, he does that week in and week out at Liverpool, and we unfortunately experienced it in action.

"The bottom line is that we should never have given him that room. We defended well and restricted them to shots from distance, and when they did get into the box, Washington Arubi was able to make the saves, so it was disappointing to lose that way.

Mohamed Salah scores Egypt's winner against Zimbabwe at the Africa Cup of Nations(Image: FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)

"The goal came at a time when we thought that not only could we get a point, but that we could possibly win the game. The disappointment afterwards was quite devastating, especially after playing so well and having created a few chances ourselves.

"But, in the end it's just about that individual quality. You go to sleep for one second and that's all a player like Salah needs.

"Our defender, Teenage Hadebe, did a splendid job over the 90 minutes to contain him and limit his chances, and we did limit his chances, but just in that split second, he was the difference maker and all the hard work was undone.

"It was a goal that took a lot out of us, especially being our first game of the tournament and in a game where you think you'll maybe get three points, then a point instead, and then it all gets snatched away from you in the dying minutes.

"It hurt, but we learned from it, and we were much better in our next matches against Angola and South Africa, albeit that we weren't ultimately able to progress."

McKop, who also serves as a goalkeeper coach for South African Premiership side Stellenbosch FC, was measured when discussing the prospects of Egypt clinching an unprecedented eighth AFCON title, even with Salah's striking prowess.

"Whether Egypt can go on and win the tournament, I think will be quite difficult," he concluded. "They rely a lot on Salah, Omar Marmoush, and one or two other individuals in the final third, and I don't think they've evolved into a side that plays as a team yet.

"They are a solid side defensively, because they defend in numbers, but it will be difficult for them. Individual quality could get them over the line, but these days you need a team effort to be combined with that individual quality. I can see them going far in the tournament but not winning it."