Nigeria Advance To Afcon Last 16, Salah Gets Egypt's First Win

Mohamed Salah found the back of the net as Egypt defeated Guinea-Bissau for their first win at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Pharaohs dropped Aston Villa midfielder Trezeguet from the side that lost to Nigeria, with Al Ahly midfielder Amr El Soleya getting the start.

Carlos Queiroz's charges came close to having a perfect start in the second minute after Salah got past a challenge on the edge of the box and fired a strike that came off the post.

Egypt gained momentum and Mostafa Mohamed was unlucky not to give them the lead in the 18th minute after going through in the box and unleashed a strike that also hit the post. The Pharaohs continued to put Guinea-Bissau under pressure in the closing phase of the first stanza but they lacked the finishing touches in the final third, with the Djurtus goalkeeper Jonas Mendes not tested.

Queiroz's men had another quick start in the second stanza, as Mostafa Mohamed had a big chance to break the deadlock four minutes in with a free header that sailed over the bar.

The Portuguese tactician made a double change just before the hour-mark, as Zizo replaced Mostafa Mohamed in a tactical move while Trezeguet came on for Abdallah Said for fresh legs in midfield.

The changes had a desired effect for Egypt, as Salah finally broke the deadlock 21 minutes before time with a strike in the six-yard box after a through ball by El Soleya.

The Pharaohs were unfortunate not to get a two-goal cushion in the last quarter of an hour after Zizo was denied by the post.

The Djurtus thought they levelled matters eight minutes before time after Mama Balde found the bottom corner with a strike in the box but the goal was disallowed for a foul after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, as the Pharaohs held on for the win.

Nigeria booked their spot in the knockout phase of the Africa Cup of Nations after a comprehensive 3-1 win over Sudan on Saturday evening.

The Super Eagles named the same line-up than beat Egypt, with Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho and Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi leading the attack.

Nigeria got off to the perfect start as Villarreal midfielder Samuel Chukwueze gave them the lead in the third minute with a strike in the box after he was teed up Moses Simon.

Augustine Eguavoen's charges had their tails up as Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi came close to doubling their lead in the 20th minute with a header that came off the bar and Awoniyi was also denied by the post nine minutes before half-time.

However, Awoniyi eventually doubled the lead for the Super Eagles on the stroke of half-time with a header from a set-piece situation to open his account for the tournament.

Nigeria put the game beyond Sudan's reach just after the half-time break, as Simon latched onto a loose ball in the box and fired a low strike past goalkeeper Ali Abu-Eshrein to make it 3-0.

The Super Eagles could afford to rest Iheanacho in the second hlaf as he was replaced by Ahmed Musa, but they conceded a penalty three minutes later after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review for a foul in the box and Walieldin Khidir pulled a goal back for Sudan from the spot-kick.

However, Sudan did not look like getting back into the game, with Aguavoen's troops the more threatening side in the closing stages, as they clinched back-to-back wins in Group D to secure qualification into the knockout stages.