Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick as Egypt whipped Zimbabwe 4-2 on Sunday to maintain a perfect 2014 World Cup qualifying record. The 'Pharaohs' top Group G with 12 points from four victories and could win it later Sunday if second-place Guinea fail to collect maximum points at home against Mozambique.
Congo-Brazzaville and Tunisia drew in Gabon and Sierra Leone respectively Saturday, leaving Egypt as the only one of the 40 second-stage competitors boasting a 100 percent record. It was a disappointing outcome for Zimbabwe at a sunny but chilly National Stadium in Harare after losing narrowly in Cairo three months ago, and they remain bottom of the table.
Salah, who helped Swiss club Basel reach the Europa League semi-finals this year, put Egypt ahead for the second time just before half-time and bagged a second-half brace. Veteran midfielder Mohamed Abou Trika put the visitors ahead on five minutes and Germany-based Knowledge Musona levelled midway through the half before Salah opened his account.
Salah scored again on 76 minutes and substitute Knowledge Billiat reduced arrears only for the Egyptian to complete his hat-trick and condemn Zimbabwe to a third loss in four outings. Although Egypt won the Africa Cup of Nations a record seven times between 1957 and 2010, they have appeared at the World Cup only twice, and the last time was 24 years ago.