Mohamed Salah earns Egypt draw with Mozambique with injury-time penalty in AFCON group match

Mohamed Salah's injury-time penalty saved Egypt from a shock defeat in their Africa Cup of Nations opener against Mozambique.

After Mostafa Mohamed opened the scoring inside 90 seconds, two goals in four second half minutes from Witi Quembo and Clesio Bauque had the underdogs lined up for one of the great shocks in the history of the competition.

A clumsy challenge from Domingos Macandza on Mohamed was not initially given as a spot-kick but, after viewing a sideline screen, the referee reversed his decision and the Liverpool man slotted home in-off the post.

Egypt looked in total command in the first half and could have been further ahead when Mahmoud Trezeguet was the width of the post away from an equaliser in the 26th minute, but two fantastic goals turned the tide.

Witi leapt majestically to head home Macandza's cross and substitute Bauque blitzed through the middle of the Egypt defence before striking home with panache with what would have been a fitting winner.

Salah looked like being the villain when he missed a volley which dropped to him all alone in the area seven minutes from time, but he and his country were lucky enough to get another chance to salvage a point from the match.

In the group's other match, Cape Verde scored an injury-time winner to go top courtesy of a shock 2-1 win over Ghana.

Jamiro Monteiro scored with a follow-up to a Jovane Cabral long-range shot that Richard Ofori could only palm into his path on 17 minutes, but Alexander Djiku scored on 56 minutes to bring the scores level with a headed goal, and the game had looked to be heading towards a draw.

Cape Verde kept up the pressure, forcing Ofori into two smart stops, before Garry Rodrigues struck in injury time for a famous winner.

Egypt next meet Ghana on Thursday, while Mozambique play Cape Verde 24 hours later.

Madagascar's victory over Nigeria in 2019 is often seen as the benchmark in AFCON upsets, with Zambia's dream run to victory in 2012 not far behind. This would have been up there in discussion after these milestone moments. Mozambique had only taken three points in the African Cup of Nations up to this point.

They had not scored in it for 14 years. Yet with regulation time ending they looked on course to beat the side led by the continent's best player - amongst other stars. They rode their luck a little in the first half, but always had their chances.

Witi had a great chance to score in the first half, when he scuffed an effort wide of the target and with Egypt not taking advantage of their dominance in possession, Mozambique's clinical finishing gave them the advantage. Alhough they will rue the use of VAR, they cannot really complain it was not a penalty, though sympathy lies with Domingos Macandza for his honest challenge which was just a fraction late. One thing is for certain: with Egypt and Nigeria failing to win today, no favourite will go into a game thinking a victory is a formality in this tournament.

He certainly did not come into the game as Egypt's most dangerous attacker, but he proved to be that in the 90-plus minutes of action. At the start, his quicksilver turn put his country in front in what was then expected to be a comfortable evening. As it proved not to be the case, after his strike partner missed a sitter, he put himself in position to win the foul to earn his friend the chance of a reprieve.

Egypt: Al-Shenawi 6; Hany 7, Hegazy 6, Hamdi 6, Abdel Monem 6; Fathi 6, Trezeguet 6, Elneny 6; Sayed 7, Salah 6, Mohamed 7.

Subs: Marmoush 6, Kamal 6, Ashour 6, Hassan 6.

Mozambique: Siluane 6; Dove 7, Macandza 6, Mandava 6, Mexer 6; Pelembe 6, Amade 6, Witi 7, Guima 7; Ratifo 6, Gildo 6.

Subs: Langa 6, Bauque 8, King 6, Amadu 6, Jone 6.

2' GOAL FOR EGYPT! What a start! The ball fell in the box to Salah, who had an air shot, but Mohamed then turned and smashed it low and hard to the goalkeeper's left.

26' OFF THE POST! Salah chips a ball over the defence for Mohamed and he lays it back for Trezeguet who, on the stretch, shoots low against the base of the near post.

55' GOAL FOR MOZAMBIQUE! A fantastic cross from Macandza and an equally good header from Witi which bullets towards goal and though the Egypt stopper got a hand to the ball he could not keep it out.

58' GOAL FOR MOZAMBIQUE! What a goal from the substitute Bauque. He blitzed through the centre of the Egypt defence, breezing past Hegazi and then finished clinically to give his country a shock lead.

76' OFF THE BAR! Hamdi's cross came firmly to Fathi and he flicked an audacious backheel at the ball which flew towards the goal, hitting the post and then the keeper's back before bouncing to safety.

90+3' EGYPT CLAIM FOR A PENALTY! VAR will look at this. Macandza went to volley the ball away and appeared to catch Mohamed before striking the ball. PENALTY IS AWARDED!

90+7' GOAL FOR EGYPT! Salah makes no mistake from the penalty spot, with his effort going in off the post.