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The Liverpool star, along with millions more around the world, was on the edge of his seat as his countrymen in claimed a vital point from their crucial final Group B match which proved enough to qualify after Ghana blew a 2-0 lead in stoppage-time of its match against Mozambique to also draw 2-2 and finish behind the Pharaohs in the standings.

Salah will now return to the UK for treatment on the injury that kept him out this clash and also Egypt's next match-up in the Round of 16 clash, but he would have feared the worst with the Pharaohs staring at an early exit after falling behind to a goal from Gilson Tavares for the surprise group winner Cape Verde.

But substitute Trezeguet hauled them level and Mostafa Mohamed fired them ahead at the start of stoppage-time amid wild scenes.

The Blue Sharks then rocked Egypt by equalising through Bryan Teixeira, but Ghana being pegged back by Mozambique meant the Pharaohs clung on to second place.

With Cape Verde having already topped the group, Egypt was hoping it might not play with the same intensity that brought it two wins out of two so far at the tournament.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha saved from Mohamed and Omar Marmoush while Zizo fired narrowly wide.

But in first-half stoppage time and with Cape Verde’s first real opportunity, the surprise package took the lead.

Ryan Mendes headed the ball into the path of Tavares, who turned sharply before crashing his shot low into the net.

Trezeguet should have equalised moments after coming on as a half-time substitute but he blazed his shot over the crossbar.

But the Trabzonspor midfielder made his mark three minutes later when he played a brilliant one-two with Ahmed Hegazy before lashing an angled shot past Vozinha.

Trezeguet almost immediately put Egypt ahead but drilled his shot across Vozinha and wide.

Mohamed had a golden chance from Trezeguet’s cross but agonisingly lifted his effort over the top.

But two minutes into stoppage-time Mohamed chased on to a ball over the top and lifted it over Vozinha, the goal standing after a nail-biting VAR check for handball as he'd brought the ball under control.

A dramatic victory seemed to have been secured but there was still time for Teixeira to fire an equaliser in the ninth minute of stoppage-time, although somehow Egypt could still celebrate qualification in the most extraordinary of circumstances.