Salah and Egypt open Afcon qualifying campaign with narrow win over Guinea

Mohamed Salah and Egypt got their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying up and running with a 1-0 victory over Guinea on Sunday, with substitute Mostafa Mohamed providing the winning goal.

Salah and Naby Keita, Liverpool teammates turned opposition captains, were creative but failed to score in a Group D match that offered little excitement for the Cairo crowd.

Galatasaray forward Mohamed, who entered the game midway through the second half, ended the deadlock three minutes from time with a shot that Mouctar Diakhaby deflected past goalkeeper Ibrahima Kone.

New Egypt manager Ehab Gabal promised a "different playing style" after the twin disappointments of losing to Senegal both in the Afcon final last February and in a World Cup play-off one month later.

But he made a forgettable debut and more will be expected of the Pharaohs when they play Ethiopia on Thursday before Salah takes a well deserved break.

In the same group, Malawi edged Ethiopia 2-1 in a clash of 2021 Afcon qualifiers, with all three goals in Lilongwe coming from penalties.

Frank 'Gabadinho' Mhango fired spot kicks into the right corner and the middle of the net to give the Flames a two-goal half-time advantage. But Ethiopia created a tense finish by halving the deficit midway through the second half when Abubeker Nassir converted the third penalty of the match.

Egypt are favoured to win the group as they chase a record-extending eighth title, with Guinea and Malawi fighting to come second, so the stakes will be high when they meet on Thursday in Conakry.

Qatar World Cup qualifiers Ghana battled in Group E against the Central African Republic, who forced a 1-1 draw in a match played in Angola because they do not have an international-standard stadium.

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