CAIRO: Host Egypt has stepped up into the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations when Egypt beat DR Congo 2-0. Egypt went ahead when Liverpool forward Salah cross was met by Aston Villa’s Ahmed Elmohamady, who finished at the second attempt.

Salah then added a second with a powerful strike when surrounded by two DR Congo players after a fine run from Trezeguet. Seven-time winners Egypt join Nigeria in the last 16 of the competition.

Egypt, who last won the tournament in 2010 and lost in the 2017 final, secured their second win in two matches to move on to six points and guarantee a top-two finish in Group A.

This was DR Congo’s second defeat in two games and they have to beat Zimbabwe on Sunday and hope they claim one of the four spots available to teams finishing third in their group.

Egypt had begun their campaign with a 1-0 win over Zimbabwe and will go through as group winners if they avoid defeat against second-placed Uganda on Sunday.

(With inputs from BBC)