Mohamed Salah scored twice as Egypt beat Malawi in Ali Maher’s first match in charge, taking his tally past Hossam Hassan’s national record.

The captain headed home in the 84th minute before converting a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time at Cairo International Stadium, completing a win that kept Egypt top of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group.

Nasser Maher, Omar Marmoush and Mohamed Hany had put the hosts three goals ahead before half-time, giving their new coach a winning start six days after he replaced Hossam Hassan.

Egypt moved to seven points from three matches in Group B, three ahead of Angola, who face South Sudan on Saturday. Malawi remain third with three points.

Nasser Maher opened the scoring after six minutes, finishing a Mohamed Hany delivery for his first international goal.

Marmoush doubled the lead four minutes later, striking from inside the penalty area after pressure from Ahmed Sayed Zizo forced an error in the Malawi defence.

Hany then added Egypt’s third before the interval with a long-range strike, also his first goal for the national team.

Mostafa Shobeir denied Richard Mbulu in the first half, while Malawi’s goalkeeper saved from Zizo and later stopped Salah when the captain went through on goal.

Salah eventually found the net with a header from substitute Ibrahim Adel’s cross before adding his second from the spot.

The double put the 34-year-old on 70 goals from 123 appearances, above his former manager’s 69 goals.

Ali Maher was appointed on November 7 after the EFA dismissed Hassan, who had led Egypt to the last 16 of the World Cup.

The teams meet again in Malawi on Tuesday, November 17, in the fourth round of qualifying for the 2027 finals. efa.eg