Salah Shatters Africa’s World Cup Qualifier Records as Egypt Rise Closer to 2026
8 October 2025
Match recap
Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool talisman, added another chapter to his storied Egypt career by netting against Djibouti on Wednesday, as the Pharaohs edged closer to a place at the 2026 World Cup through Africa's qualifying process.
Egypt travel to Djibouti for the penultimate Group 1 fixture, slated to be played at the Arab Al-Zaouli Stadium in Morocco, with a victory potentially sealing qualification.
Egypt sit atop Group 1 with 20 points, and a win would officially secure their World Cup spot, underscoring the consistency shown across the campaign.
Salah struck his second goal of the night in the 14th minute after receiving a cross on the right and firing home, while Ibrahim Adel had opened the scoring in the 8th minute to give the Pharaohs the early advantage.
The Egyptian side also featured a strong defensive showing, but the narrative centered on Salah’s continued brilliance as he pushes toward historic milestones with the national team.
With this goal, Salah moved to 62 goals for Egypt and climbed the all-time list, trailing the country’s record scorer by a few notches while eyeing the next milestones that could cement his name even deeper into the annals of Egyptian football.
As for the broader record landscape, Salah now sits atop Africa’s World Cup qualifying scoring chart with eight goals in the current campaign, sharing the top spot with Denis Bouanga and chasing the continent-wide record of 19 World Cup qualifying goals across campaigns. The 33-year-old is eight? no less than seven goals away from becoming Egypt’s all-time top scorer in World Cup qualifiers, and his 108th international cap positions him within reach of Rabie Yassin’s appearance record, depending on future selections.
Egypt’s World Cup qualifying journey has been marked by a strong opening, a 6-0 home win over Djibouti in November 2023, a 2-0 victory over Sierra Leone, and a 2024 campaign that included a 2-1 win over Burkina Faso and a goalless draw with Guinea-Bissau. The Pharaohs have subsequently picked up wins against Ethiopia and Sierra Leone in Cairo, maintaining momentum as they chase a place at the finals. Historically, Egypt’s World Cup appearances include 1934 (the first edition), 1990, and 2018 in Russia, with 2026 representing another late-stage bid to rejoin the world’s top tournament.
In the ongoing campaign, the national team continues to be steered by coach Hossam Hassan, who has guided the side through a crucial phase of the qualifiers as they press toward a fourth World Cup appearance.
Milestones and context
Beyond the night’s goals, Salah’s contributions in World Cup qualifying have solidified his status as Africa’s all-time top scorer in the qualifying lineage, with 19 goals across campaigns. His 62 goals for Egypt place him behind the nation’s all-time tally leader, yet he remains a constant source of inspiration and a symbol of Egypt’s ambitions on the global stage. The ongoing quest for the World Cup brings with it a legacy of appearances and records, highlighting Salah’s evolving role as a transformative figure for Egyptian football.
As Egypt continues their quest for qualification, the historical narrative remains rich: 1934 marked their World Cup debut, followed by appearances in 1990 and 2018. The 2026 journey would represent another landmark in a long, storied history for the Pharaohs, with Salah as their leading figure in the modern era.
