BBC News, Arabic Go to content Homepage Watch Listen Main Sections News Economy Health and Science Culture and Arts World Cup 2026 Investigations News Economy Health and Science Culture and Arts World Cup 2026 Investigations Egypt achieves an unprecedented victory in the World Cup after defeating New Zealand, with Mohamed Salah and "Ziko" shining. The image is issued by EPA.
Mohamed Salah scored one goal and assisted another to lead Egypt from a goal down to a 3-1 victory over New Zealand in Vancouver, Canada, marking its first ever win in the FIFA World Cup in its fourth finals appearance on Monday.
Egypt fell behind early with a 15th-minute goal from Finn Surman, who expertly headed in from a corner taken from the left by Tim Payne.
New Zealand could have doubled their lead on several occasions both before and after this goal, but Egypt’s Mustafa Shoubi saved three clear chances in the first half to keep his team’s hopes alive in the match.
Egypt's only real chance in the first half came through Omar Marmoush in the 27th minute with a powerful shot that was saved by goalkeeper Max Crocombe on two attempts.
Egypt showed a completely different side in the second half as Mustafa Abdel Raouf "Ziko" equalized in the 58th minute with a brilliant header from inside the box after a cross from Mohamed Hani from the right.
Salah added the second goal in the 67th minute after a well-organized attack that ended with a back-heel pass from Ziko to Salah inside the box, which the latter brilliantly put into the net.
Substitute Mahmoud Hassan "Trezeguet" scored the third goal in the 82nd minute with a header after a corner from the left taken by Salah.
Thus, Egypt tops Group G with four points, followed by Iran and Belgium with two points each, and New Zealand comes last with one point.
Mustafa Ziko became the first player in the history of the Egyptian national team to score one goal and assist another in the same World Cup match, before Salah repeated the feat in the same game.
Mohamed Salah became the oldest Egyptian player to score in World Cup history at 34 years and 7 days, surpassing the previous record held by Magdy Abdel Ghani, who scored against the Netherlands in 1990 at the age of 30 years and 320 days.
Salah also became the Arab player with the most goals in World Cup history, sharing the record with Saudis Sami Al-Jaber and Salem Al-Dawsari, Tunisian Wahbi Khazri, and Moroccan Youssef En-Nesyri, each with 3 goals.
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