'Unstoppable' Salah nets four as Egypt thrash Djibouti in World Cup Qualifiers

Mohamed Salah scored a quadruple as Egypt eased past Djibouti in the opening Group A game of Africa's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Liverpool winger scored a 27-minute hat-trick before adding his fourth of the game late as the Pharaohs strolled to a 6-0 win at home.

Mostafa Mohammed and Trezeguet crowned a spectacular performance for Egypt with two goals in the final 20 minutes of the match.

Salah wasted no time giving the seven-time African champions the lead, breaking the deadlock in the 17th minute and adding his second five minutes later from the spot.

Djibouti held on to stop the hosts from scoring further in the first half but Egypt were rampant after the break, with their ace completing his hat-trick three minutes in.

The 31-year-old added his fourth with a simple touch with twenty minutes left before Mostafa Mohamed added his side's fifth and Trezeguet sealed an emphatic win.

Salah's four-goal haul against Djibouti also saw him become Egypt's all-time top scorer in the World Cup qualifiers with 15 goals.

He is now second of his country's all-time leading scorers with 55 goals in 91 appearances, with Hossam Hassan top with 68 strikes.

After their convincing result, the North Africans will be hopeful of returning to the World Cup after missing the 2022 edition in Qatar.

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on former Liverpool forward, Roberto Firmino discussing Salah and Sadio Mane's relationship as being 'tense'.

The three stars formed an incredible attacking trio during their days together at Liverpool, leading the Reds to success domestically and in Europe.

With the trio of Salah, Mane, and Firmino upfront, Liverpool won the Premier League, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.

Becoming your nation's all time #WCQ top goal-scorer, one super-hatrrick at a time. ????????????

⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️@MoSalah | @EgyptNT_En pic.twitter.com/eQv5bmliNw

— CAF (@CAF_Online) November 16, 2023