Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick as Egypt whipped Zimbabwe 4-2 on Sunday to maintain a perfect 2014 World Cup qualifying record.
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The 'Pharaohs' top Group G with 12 points from four wins, but will have to wait until next Sunday for a chance to clinch first place after closest rivals Guinea stayed five points behind by hammering Mozambique 6-1 in Conakry.
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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.
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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.
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Salah, who helped Swiss club Basle reach the Europa League semifinals this year, put Egypt ahead for the second time just before halftime and bagged a second-half brace.
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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.
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Salah scored again on 76 minutes and substitute Khama Billiat reduced arrears only for the Egyptian to complete his hat-trick and condemn Zimbabwe to a third loss in four outings.
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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 23 years ago.
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Mohamed Yattara opened and closed the scoring as Guinea finally struck form, Sadio Diallo also netted twice and there was one goal each for Ibrahima Traore and Mohamed Diarra while Helder Pelembe converted a Mozambican spot kick.
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Fallen giants Cameroon surrendered first place in Group I to Libya on goal difference after a mini- revival came to an abrupt half with a 2-0 defeat by Togo in Lome.
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Shrugging off the absence of unavailable star Emmanuel Adebayor, who has publicly criticised coach Didier Six, the Sparrow Hawks scored in each half through Komlan Amewou and substitute Lalawele Atakora.
Zimbabwe is not a good footballing country at all so I'm not shocked Egypt whooped them that way.