It took a Mohamed Salah 97th-minute penalty to spare the Pharoahs from a disaster, as they rescued a 2-2 draw against the Mambas of Mozambique in their Africa Cup of Nations opener.
The Pharoahs of Egypt started brilliantly in Abidjan for their first group game, thanks to a goal in two minutes from Mostafa Mohamed in the first half.
However things spunned out of control for the Egyptians as Mozambique scored two goals in three second-half minutes through Witi and substitute Clesio Bauque to take the lead.
Mozambique were seconds away from earning their first ever AFCON win in their 13th attempts when they went into a surprise 2-1 lead at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.
But the Egyptians were given a lifeline when Mozambique defender Domingos Macandza committed a foul in the box and Salah utilizes the Opportunity from the spot to salvage a draw.
Up next for the Pharoahs of Egypt is a match against Ghana on Thursday 18th of January While Mozambique will be hoping for a better luck in their next group game against Cape Verde on Friday 19th of January 2024.