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Salah Is One Goal From Egypt’s Record After FIFA’s Unexplained Correction, Benatia Calls The AFCON Final “Chaos” And Portugal Honour Ronaldo

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Augustus Media FZ LLC
November 14, 2026

 

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FIFA quietly cut Mohamed Salah’s goal tally after his brace against Malawi, which leaves him one short of Egypt’s all-time record. Mehdi Benatia has weighed in on the AFCON final dispute, and Portugal are paying tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo.

FIFA Changes Salah’s Goal Count And Leaves Him One Short Of Egypt’s Record

What Is It About
Mohamed Salah scored twice in Egypt’s 5-0 win over Malawi on Friday in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, in new coach Ali Maher’s first match. FIFA then amended a June article to say Salah had 66 goals before the game, not 68, and gave no explanation. On the revised count the brace takes him to 68, one behind Hossam Hassan’s record of 69.

Why It Matters
The discrepancy went viral after the final whistle. Some outlets said Salah had broken the record and others said he was still one short. The dispute traces back to two goals in Egypt’s 10-0 friendly win over Swaziland (now Eswatini) in March 2013, which FIFA reportedly does not count as a full international. The Egyptian Football Association’s updated match report says Salah has 68 goals in 121 games. Salah posted a picture with the number 70.

What’s Next
Egypt travel to face Malawi in the return fixture on Tuesday. The win moved them top of Group B.

Benatia Calls The AFCON Final Dispute “Chaos” And Says Morocco’s Title Would Not Taste The Same

What Is It About
Former Morocco international and Marseille sporting director Mehdi Benatia spoke to Canal+ about the fallout from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. He said that even if Morocco’s title is officially confirmed, it would not carry the same taste.

Why It Matters
Senegal won the final 1-0 after extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the winner. The match had stopped for several minutes when Senegal’s players walked off in protest at a Morocco penalty, which Brahim Diaz then missed. In March, CAF’s appeals committee ruled that Senegal had withdrawn and awarded Morocco the win. Benatia said the match delegate and the referees should have dealt with the incident on the pitch. He also questioned why it was turned into a legal crisis after the final whistle.

What’s Next
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is expected to rule on the appeal by the end of November.

Portugal Plan Special Ronaldo Tribute In First Match Since His Retirement

What Is It About
Portugal’s squad were set to wear the No. 7 shirt during the pre-match ceremony before Saturday’s Nations League match against Denmark in Braga. The Portuguese Football Federation, coach Jorge Jesus and the senior players agreed the gesture, according to A Bola. It is the first international break since Ronaldo, who plays for Al Nassr, retired from the national team.

Why It Matters
Fans were asked to stand and applaud in the seventh minute. UEFA reportedly allowed the moments. The federation has also left Ronaldo’s room in the players’ residence at the Cidade do Futebol empty. Ronaldo’s Portugal career began in August 2003.

What’s Next
Portugal now have to cope without their record scorer and captain, and Jesus will look to Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva to carry the attack.

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SMASHI MOMENTS

  • Libya made it 2-0 against Tunisia with a slick counterattack for the second goal in the AFCON qualifiers 🇱🇾

  • A robot on the touchline almost ran over Omar Marmoush during Egypt’s match against Malawi, and he dodged it 🇪🇬

  • Yassine Bounou saves a penalty from Niger’s Oumarou, with his “penalty technique” working again in Morocco’s 5-1 win 🇲🇦

  • Mohamed Hany scores a brilliant goal in Egypt’s 5-0 win against Malawi 🇪🇬

  • Portugal change how the number 7 is written on their kit as a tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo

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