The Africa Cup of Nations hosts country, Egypt have secured a place in the last 16 on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo, as Mohamed Salah scored his first goal in AFCON 2019.

Ahmed Elmohamady prodded Egypt ahead on 25 minutes after a wicked Salah cross and the Liverpool star slammed in a second shortly before half-time to spark frenzied celebrations at a packed Cairo International Stadium.

Record seven-time champions Egypt rode their luck at times as DR Congo twice struck the crossbar in the first half but the Group A leaders held firm to join Nigeria as the first teams through to the knockout phase.