Mohamed Salah finds the net as Egypt beat DR Congo to qualify for last 16

Egypt confirmed their place in the knockout stages with a win inspired by the brilliance of Mohamed Salah but far less comfortable then the scoreline suggests. DR Congo, meanwhile, are not yet out, but will have to win their final game against Zimbabwe, probably by a decent margin, and hope things go for them elsewhere.

DR Congo started the game brightly and on 10 minutes Marcel Tisserand smashed a shot against the bar when it looked easier to score. But on 25 minutes Egypt took the lead, Ahmed Elmohamady poking home after Salah’s cross caused mayhem in the box.

DR Congo, though, were not disheartened and on 40 minutes his the bar again before, on 43 minutes, Trezeguet’s brilliant break allowed him to feed Salah, who delivered an equally brilliant finish.

The second half was a more muted affair, DRC doing their best to force an opportunity while Egypt took a rest, sitting back and hoping for something on the counter; neither team found what they were after. So, Egypt now need a point against Uganda to top the group, but will know that if they are to be champions, they must improve.

Are Egypt capable of controlling games? Salah and Trezeguet are two of the best attackers in the competition and a threat to every side in it. But as the standard of competition improves, unless Egypt can find a better midfield balance, they will have fewer opportunities to prove it, so will have to rely on solid defending and moments of inspiration. It might work, but a better way would work better.

Mohamed Salah (Egypt) Made the first goal with a fine cross, scored the second goal with a fine finish. A superstar.

Egypt: El-Shenawy 6, Elmohamady 7, Alaa 5, Hegazy 6, Ashraf 6, Hamed 6, El Nenny 5, Salah 8, El Said 5, Trezeguet 7, Mohsen 5. Subs: Hassan 6, Soliman 6, Ghazal 6.

DR Congo: Matampi 6, Issama 6, Luyindama 6, Tisserand 6, Ngonda 6, Moke 6, Bope 56, Bolingi 7, Mputu 7, Maghoma 6, Bakambu 7. Subs: Elia 6, Bolasie 6.

3’ - Long ball from Tisserand that Ashraf heads, but not clear, and Mputu, following in, slides into a volley from distance that he catches well ... but El Shenawy has plenty of time to see and get down to.

4’ - An interception in midfield falls straight to Salah, and he's in! A lovely touch puts the ball into stride but one more is probably unnecessary, allowing Tisserand to put him under and force him to shoot wide. By Salah's standards, that was a good chance.

10’ - But DRC get the ball back inside the Egypt box and an inept touch from Hegazy gives them another corner. This time, Mputu's delivery is superb, Arsenal-style to the near post, and Bolingi plays Steve Bould, nodding across, directly into the path of Tisserand, who arrives onto it and spanks a shot onto the face of the bar from five yards! What a chance that was!

25’ - GOAL! Egypt 1-0 DR Congo (Elmohamady) There are many, many worse tactics! Salah takes the corner short, runs past his man and takes it back - that is Sunday league really. But the cross is then delivers is anything but, flat and into the middle, eliciting a scramble before Elmurrgh pokes him following a ricochet. There were two men in front of him, both offside, but apparently being five yards out and between the posts does not interfering with play constitute. Aight.

40’ - DRC hit the bar again! Egypt are outmatched when aerial balls come into the box! This time,Moke puts one in, the big Bope wins it, nodding across, and Bolingi bumps a header onto the bar!

43’ - GOAL! Egypt 2-0 DRC (Salah) That's the one they were waiting for! Egypt counter with Trezeguet, who megs Maghoma and accelerates from wide left to centrefield, sliding a perfectly measured pass out to Salah on the right who moves the ball onto his left foot and looks to bend a shot inside the far post before power-sweeping inside the near instead. DRC have been mugged and mugged off here!

Egypt have scored 2+ goals in an African Cup of Nations game for the first time since 2010 when they defeated Algeria 4-0.