Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah recorded four goals in Egypt’s World Cup qualifying opening 6-0 win at home over Djibouti on Thursday at the Cairo International Stadium.
As a result, they go top of Group A ahead of taking on Sierra Leone on Sunday in the Liberian Capital, Monrovia.
After today’s four goals, Salah became Egypt’s all-time leading scorer in World Cup qualifiers, with 15 goals.
The Liverpool forward opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a first-time finish using his weaker right foot before he converted a penalty kick to double his side’s lead five minutes later.
He completed his hat-trick early in the second half with another right-footed finish. His fourth goal of the game arrived on 69 minutes when he guided a low shot into the bottom corner of the net from just inside the 18-yard box.
Mostafa Mohamed and Trezeguet then completed the route.
Guinea-Bissau and Burkina Faso will lock horns tomorrow in Marrakesh, Morocco, to complete the first round of matches in Group A.
On Wednesday, Sierra Leone and Ethiopia played to a goalless draw at El Abdi Stadium.
- Matchday 1 – 15 November
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Namibia (Group H) | 1400 | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Rwanda 0-0 Zimbabwe (Group C) | 1500 | Butare, Rwanda
Congo DR 2-0 Mauritania (Group C) | 1500 | Butare, Rwanda
Ethiopia 0-0 Sierra Leone (Group A) | 2000 | El Jadida, Morocco
16 November
Botswana 2-3 Mozambique (Group G) | 1500 | Francistown, Botswana
Burundi 3-2 The Gambia (Group F) | 1600 | Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Gabon 2-1 Kenya (Group F) | 1700 | Franceville, Gabon
Nigeria 1-1 Lesotho (Group C) | 1700 | Uyo, Nigeria
Algeria 3-1 Somalia (Group G) | 1700 | Baraki, Algeria
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