Mohamed Salah scored a goal of a real quality as Egypt beat Guinea-Bissau 1-0 in their second game of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Liverpool striker scored the winning goal in the second half, firing his brilliant-volley into net after drifting free at the far post.
Guinea-Bissau had what was to be an equalizer disallowed after Balde stunning strike was ruled out after VAR check.
Egypt looked to hit the front on second minute through a side-footed effort in the area from Salah off a ball on the left-side, but he hit the right post.
Guinea-Bissau and threatened the lead from a free-kick by Piqueti, but he couldn’t find target as Mohamed El-Shennawy saved.
The Pharaohs remained quiet for much of the first half, which allowed the Djurtus dictate matters through Panutche Camara from the middle of the park and forward Mama Balde.
Guinea-Bissau continued to enjoy the better openings inside halftime, as Camara drilled a shot from outside the area over the bar following clever play in midfield.
The second half continued to see little clear-cut chances, but Egypt still enjoyed the better part of the openings albeit small as the second stanza began to settle down.
The Pharaohs continued to pressurize the Guinea-Bissau defence and on the 69th minute Mo Salah beat Jonas Mendes with a strike to find the opener.
Guinea-Bissau looked for a response through a quickly taken free-kick moments apart, but Moreto Cassamaclattered the upright from a tight angle.
Egypt were denied by the post again on the 75th minute when Zizo was found by another inviting cross from Omar Kamal but his half-volley hit the woodwork.
The Djrutus thought they had scored a consolation on the 82nd minute when Mama Balde got better of Omar Kamal on the left before sending a curling shot into the far corner and beyond the despairing dive of El-Shennawy.
After a VAR check the referee overturned the decision and instead gave a foul as Balde was judged to have used force to go past Kamal.
That was all it took Egypt to bag the maximum points that saw them keeping hopes of progressing to the knockout stages with one match remaining.
How they lined up:
Guinea-Bissau: Jonas Mendes, Jefferson Encada, Sori Mane, Opa Sangante, Fali Cande, Moreto Cassama, Bura Nogueira, Panutche Camara, Piqueti, Steve Ambri, Mama Balde
Egypt: Mohamed El-Shennawi, Omar Kamal, Ahmed Hegazi, Mahmoud El-Wensh, Ayman Ashraf, Mohamed Elneny, Amr El-Sulaya, Abdallah El-Said, Omar Marmoush, Mohamed Salah, Mostafa Mohamed
