The Liverpool forward took the outright record with a late brace at Cairo International Stadium, scoring in the 84th minute to draw level with Hassan on 69 goals before converting a stoppage-time penalty to move clear on 70.
Egypt were already four up by the time Salah arrived on the scoresheet. Nasser Maher had opened the scoring in the sixth minute, Omar Marmoush added a second four minutes later, and Mohamed Hany made it three before the break.
The result lifted Egypt to seven points from three matches at the top of AFCON 2027 qualifying Group B, four clear of Malawi.
New coach, old coach’s record
The ninety minutes carried an unmistakable subplot. Salah’s victim in the record books was the same Hossam Hassan the Egyptian Football Association had sacked on 7 November, six days before kick-off.
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Hassan’s replacement, Ali Maher, was in the dugout for the first time. At his unveiling the former Ceramica Cleopatra coach praised the squad he had inherited.
“The current generation of Egyptian footballers is the strongest group in the country’s history,” Maher told reporters.
He also insisted he would build on what Hassan had put in place rather than start from scratch.
70 goals in the Pharaohs’ shirt
Hassan, 60, held the Egypt scoring record for close to two decades and remains one of the most capped players in African international football. His 69 goals came across more than 170 appearances for the Pharaohs.
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Salah has now overtaken that mark while still active at the top of the European game, and at 34 he is likely to extend it considerably before he is done. The forward signed a new two-year Liverpool contract in April 2025 that runs until 2027.
A point in Lilongwe would move Egypt closer
The two sides meet again on 17 November, this time at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, where Malawi will try to salvage something from the double-header. Egypt can take another step toward qualification with a point.
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